The wait is over.
After lacking the primary 5 video games of the season, Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu is about to make her official season debut Sunday towards the .
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“I haven’t missed that a lot so I don’t assume it’s an enormous emotional rollercoaster,” Ionescu stated after Saturday’s apply. “It’s thrilling for me to have the ability to play my sort of season opener. … So I’m excited. Feels prefer it’s been some time — it hasn’t — nevertheless it feels prefer it’s been without end simply having to look at from the sidelines.”
Ionescu knew from the second she went down, rolling her earlier this month, that she possible would miss time. She underwent an MRI the next day that confirmed she prevented main damage.
“I might put weight on my foot, so I knew it wasn’t main, nevertheless it wasn’t not an damage,” Ionescu stated. “I knew that from what it felt like. I knew I used to be gonna be out for slightly bit and grateful I got here again loads ahead of I used to be presupposed to, with returning now, so I’m actually enthusiastic about that as effectively.”
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Ionescu stated she had some structural injury, “however fortunately it responded actually rapidly” and allowed her to return ahead of anticipated. She doesn’t anticipate the foot damage shall be a lingering problem. She’s anticipated to have a minute restriction Sunday.
Sabrina Ionescu #20 of the New York Liberty argues a foul name throughout play towards the Connecticut Solar within the first half at Mohegan Solar Area on Might 3, 2026 in Uncasville, Connecticut. Getty Photos
Ionescu stated she feels nice. She managed to take care of her conditioning over the course of her rehab course of with two-a-day exercises that included a stationary bike and underwater treadmill.
“I don’t really feel like my cardio dipped in any respect,” Ionescu stated. “That’s why you are available actually, actually good condition for stuff like this.”
Ionescu’s return appeared imminent after the Liberty on Friday waived guard , whom the staff signed to a hardship contract firstly of the season.
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Ionescu rejoining the beginning lineup possible signifies that rookie standout Pauline Astier shall be moved to the bench. Astier began all 5 video games in Ionescu’s absence, averaging 14.8 factors, 4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.2 steals.
An injured Sabrina Ionescu watches from the bench in the course of the first half of a WNBA basketball sport towards the on the Barclays Heart in Brooklyn on Thursday, Might 21, 2026. Heather Khalifa for NY Put up
The Liberty are for the primary time this season.
made her season debut in Thursday’s 87-70 loss to the Valkyries after coping with discomfort from a cyst.
Raquel Carrera and , who received the Spanish League championship for Valencia earlier this month, have been seen at Saturday’s apply. Carrera has been in New York since Wednesday and is predicted to make her WNBA debut Sunday. In the meantime, Fiebich arrived Friday and will make her season debut as quickly as Monday’s sport towards the .
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Ionescu received a style of enjoying in Chris DeMarco’s system in the course of the preseason, however Sunday shall be her first regular-season sport. The staff has opened the season 3-2 and is coming off a nasty loss to Golden State.
The Liberty have been giving themselves some grace contemplating this complete season and are reintegrating gamers. On Thursday, that was Sabally. On Sunday, it is going to be Ionescu.
However with the Liberty enjoying their second of seven consecutive video games at residence Sunday, Ionescu stated there’s a common want to make enhancements and make the most of this uncommon lengthy homestand.
“Any time you lose, there’s slightly little bit of a heightened sense of, ‘We received to proceed to hone in on the issues we set to work on,’ ” Ionescu stated, “and clearly, not panic. There’s a whole lot of transferring components taking place proper now with individuals coming in, individuals coming in from abroad, integrating new gamers. It’s Sport 5 of the season, so we’re proper the place we wish to be, however we all know we have now a protracted strategy to go.”