The New York Liberty are starting to find their rhythm under first-year head coach Chris DeMarco, but Sunday's preseason win over the Connecticut Sun came with a concerning moment for one of their stars.
Sabrina Ionescu exited the Liberty's 79-67 victory at Mohegan Sun Arena after rolling her left ankle on a reverse layup early in the third quarter. The star guard walked off the court under her own power and did not return, finishing with six points and two assists in 16 minutes of action.
"She just rolled her ankle," DeMarco said after the game. "She's getting an MRI tomorrow."
The injury is notable because Ionescu underwent surgery on that same left ankle in 2020 to remove scar tissue. While she left the arena wearing a protective boot, she did not use crutches, and DeMarco described the outlook as "positive."
Sunday's game marked a significant step forward for the Liberty offense, which struggled mightily in their preseason opener against the Indiana Fever on April 25. In that game, New York looked disjointed, operating with just one offensive set for the entire 40 minutes. But against the Sun, DeMarco's "family style" system started clicking.
Jonquel Jones led the way with 15 points and five rebounds, while Marine Johannes and Pauline Astier each added 12 points. Sun center Brittney Griner paced all scorers with 16 points in the loss.
DeMarco made the strategic decision to keep his starters—minus Breanna Stewart—on the floor to open the second half, a choice he said would depend on first-half performance. Unfortunately, that decision led to the Ionescu scare just minutes into the third quarter.
The Liberty know all too well the impact of injuries after a brutal 2025 campaign. New York played only four regular-season games at full strength, with Jones (ankle) and Stewart (knee) each missing 13 games. Ionescu herself sat out six games with neck and toe issues, while Betnijah Laney-Hamilton missed the entire season recovering from meniscus surgery. Former Liberty forward Nyara Sabally was limited to just 17 games due to a nagging knee injury.
Former coach Sandy Brondello was forced to use 18 different starting lineups throughout the season—a staggering number that highlights the team's injury woes.
"Obviously it wasn't good to see," Jones said of Ionescu's injury. "I was able to chat with our (performance staff) during the game just to know she was okay."
As the Liberty await MRI results, fans and teammates alike are hoping for positive news on a player who remains central to New York's championship aspirations.