Two of the biggest names in women's basketball are heading back to familiar territory, but the question on every Oregon Ducks fan's mind is: will they actually play?
Sabrina Ionescu and Satou Sabally, the dynamic duo that lit up Matthew Knight Arena from 2017 to 2020, are set to return to Oregon on Tuesday night when the New York Liberty take on the Portland Fire at Moda Center. For fans who remember their electric chemistry in Eugene—Ionescu's pinpoint passes setting up Sabally's silky finishes—this homecoming was circled on the calendar the moment the 2026 WNBA schedule dropped.
But injury clouds are hovering over the reunion. Ionescu, the Liberty's star point guard and the No. 1 overall pick in 2020, has been sidelined with an ankle injury suffered during the preseason. She's missed New York's first two games and remains listed as out. For a player who redefined what a triple-double looks like in college, seeing her on the bench is a tough blow for fans hoping to witness her magic live.
Sabally's situation is a bit more hopeful—and a bit more frustrating. The No. 2 pick in 2020 has yet to make her Liberty debut after being acquired in the offseason, nursing a cyst injury. However, she's been listed as a game-time decision for Tuesday, leaving the door cracked open for a potential return in front of a crowd that once chanted her name. The suspense is real: will she or won't she?
Even without their two former Ducks, the Liberty are no pushovers. They're loaded with firepower, including two-time MVP Breanna Stewart and 2024 Finals MVP Jonquel Jones, who have carried the team to a strong start. For the Fire, this is only their second game as a franchise after falling to the Chicago Sky in their season opener. A win against a star-studded New York squad would be a statement.
Both teams meet again Thursday in Portland, but this week marks the Liberty's only regular-season visit to Oregon. If the injuries don't clear, Ducks faithful may have to wait until next season—or a potential playoff clash—to see Ionescu and Sabally reunited on the court where it all began. For now, all eyes are on the injury report and the clock ticking down to tip-off.