As the New York Liberty gear up for a new season, all eyes are on their star-studded Big 3—Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart, and Jonquel Jones. After a disappointing 2025 campaign that ended with a first-round playoff exit, the Liberty made bold moves, cycling through coaching staff and adding Satou Sabally to reignite their title hopes. But a preseason scare against the Connecticut Sun has thrown a wrench into those plans.
With just under three minutes left in the third quarter, Ionescu drove hard to the rim for a reverse layup, only to have her left ankle get tangled with defender Daimond Miller. The star point guard immediately went down, clutching her ankle, and limped off the court to the bench. She didn't return, finishing the night with 6 points and 2 assists—a quiet outing for a player who averaged 18.2 points, 5.7 assists, and 4.9 rebounds last season.
The timing couldn't be more tense. With the regular-season opener set for Friday, Liberty head coach Chris DeMarco delivered a cautious but hopeful update after the game. "She just rolled her ankle. She's getting an MRI tomorrow," DeMarco told reporters. The concern, however, runs deeper than a typical roll. Ionescu suffered a Grade 3 ankle sprain in 2020 that required surgery, and lingering pain haunted her through the 2021 season. She didn't declare herself fully healthy until 2022. For Liberty fans, the worst-case scenario is a return to those "dark days."
Despite the worry, DeMarco and Jones are keeping the faith. "It's positive right now. We'll do the test tomorrow, and that's the only update I have," DeMarco said when asked about her injury history. Jonquel Jones, who knows a thing or two about ankle issues after missing most of the 2025 season with her own ankle injury, echoed the optimism. "It wasn't good to see. I checked in with our PT during the game to make sure she was okay. But like Chris said, our fingers are crossed, and we'll handle it as we get more information."
The Liberty are no strangers to injury adversity. Last season, Stewart battled a knee issue down the stretch, Ionescu missed several games, and Jones was sidelined for much of the year. As the team waits on MRI results, one thing is clear: Liberty fans will be holding their breath until they get good news.