New York Liberty fans, hold your breath—but only for a moment. Star guard Sabrina Ionescu is set to miss the start of the 2026 WNBA season after suffering a left ankle injury during a preseason game. The good news? It's not as serious as it could have been.

The injury occurred during a 79-67 victory over the Connecticut Sun on May 3. With about 7:40 left in the third quarter, Ionescu drove hard for a layup, but her landing went wrong. Her left ankle rolled awkwardly as her feet tangled with Sun forward Diamond Miller. After the game, she was spotted wearing a protective boot on her left leg.

An MRI on Monday revealed a left foot injury, but according to The New York Post, Ionescu avoided "significant injury." She's expected to be reevaluated in two weeks and will miss at least that much time. For a player who averaged 18.2 points, 5.7 assists, and 4.9 rebounds last season, every game counts.

Liberty head coach Chris DeMarco remained cautiously optimistic after the game. "Things are positive right now," he said. "We're just going to do the test tomorrow, and that's the only update I have." Teammate Jonquel Jones echoed that sentiment: "Obviously, it wasn't good to see. Our fingers are crossed, and we'll just kind of handle it as we get more information."

Before the injury, Ionescu managed just six points on 2-of-8 shooting in under 16 minutes. It was a quiet outing for the 2020 No. 1 overall pick, who has been a cornerstone for the Liberty since being drafted out of Oregon. Her absence will be felt, but with a two-week timeline, the team is hoping for a swift return.

For now, Liberty fans can take comfort in knowing this isn't a season-ending setback. Ionescu's resilience has been tested before, and if history is any guide, she'll be back on the court before long, ready to lead New York's charge.