The New York Liberty will have to start their season without one of their brightest stars. Sabrina Ionescu, the dynamic guard who has become the face of the franchise, is set to miss at least the first two weeks of the regular season after suffering a left ankle injury during Sunday's preseason matchup against the Connecticut Sun.

The injury occurred in the third quarter when Ionescu rolled her ankle, forcing her to exit the game early. After the contest, Liberty head coach Chris DeMarco confirmed the injury and noted that an MRI would be scheduled for Monday. The news could have been much worse—according to New York Post reporter Madeline Kenney, the MRI revealed that Ionescu avoided any "significant injury," which is a relief for a team that relies heavily on her playmaking and scoring ability. She will be re-evaluated in two weeks, with a potential return expected by the end of the month if her recovery progresses smoothly.

This setback comes at a challenging time for the Liberty, who are entering a new era under first-year head coach DeMarco. Losing a player of Ionescu's caliber—a triple-double threat who can take over games—creates a significant void in the backcourt. Unfortunately for New York, they won't be able to lean on veteran guard Natasha Cloud to fill the gap, as she signed with the Chicago Sky on Monday, just a day after Ionescu's injury.

For Liberty fans, the silver lining is that this appears to be a short-term absence rather than a season-altering blow. Ionescu's health is paramount for a team with championship aspirations, and this early-season hurdle gives other players a chance to step up. As she works her way back to full strength, the team will need to rally and adapt, knowing their star will be back in action before long.