Sabrina Ionescu, the star guard for the New York Liberty, gave fans a scare during Sunday's preseason matchup against the Connecticut Sun in Uncasville. The All-Star exited the game in the third quarter after landing awkwardly on a drive to the basket, leaving the court with a noticeable limp.

The incident unfolded as Ionescu went up for a play, but her landing didn't go as planned. She stayed down for a few seconds, then waved toward the Liberty bench before slowly making her way to the locker room. The team later confirmed she was ruled out for the remainder of the game with what they termed a "lower-body injury."

Before the early exit, Ionescu had logged just under 16 minutes of action, finishing with six points on 2-of-8 shooting. While the numbers weren't flashy, preseason games are all about building rhythm and chemistry—making this injury timing particularly concerning for Liberty fans.

Last season, Ionescu was a powerhouse for New York, appearing in 38 games and averaging 18.2 points, 5.7 assists, and 4.9 rebounds per contest. Her leadership and versatility are key to the Liberty's championship aspirations, so any health scare naturally raises eyebrows.

The Liberty are set to tip off the regular season on Friday at home—against none other than the Connecticut Sun. The team was already shorthanded in this preseason game, with Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, Rebecca Allen, and Satou Sabally all sitting out as they work their way back into game shape. Now, all eyes will be on Ionescu's recovery timeline as the season opener approaches.

For now, fans can only hope this is a minor setback for one of the WNBA's brightest stars.