The New York Liberty will have to tip off the 2026 WNBA season without one of their brightest stars, as Sabrina Ionescu is sidelined with a left foot injury sustained in the preseason finale against the Connecticut Sun. The good news? The injury isn't as severe as initially feared. The Liberty star rolled her ankle during the third quarter of Sunday's exhibition contest while driving for a reverse layup, immediately heading to the locker room and later spotted in a walking boot.

According to a team source, Ionescu is expected to miss at least two weeks, which translates to the first four games of the regular season. She'll be re-evaluated after that window, giving the Liberty a clearer timeline for her return. For a team that battled through significant injury woes in 2025—with Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones each missing 13 games—this is a frustrating déjà vu. Ionescu, however, had been a beacon of durability last season, appearing in 38 of 44 games.

Losing a superstar like Ionescu is a blow, but if any WNBA roster is built to absorb it, it's the Liberty. With Stewart and Jones still anchoring the lineup, New York also boasts Satou Sabally, the three-time All-Star and former Phoenix Mercury forward signed in free agency. Sabally has averaged 16-plus points per game over the last three seasons, including 16.3 in 2025. While her scoring opportunities were expected to dip on this star-studded squad, Ionescu's absence could unleash her full offensive arsenal.

The Liberty's schedule without Ionescu is no cakewalk. They open at home against the Connecticut Sun on Friday, followed by a three-game road swing against the Washington Mystics and two matchups with the league's newest expansion team, the Portland Fire. It's an early test of depth and resilience for a team with championship aspirations, but with a roster this deep, New York has the pieces to weather the storm.