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New York Liberty Dealt Unfortunate News on Sunday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Rowan Fisher-Shotton | Last updated Jun 22, 2025 7:51 PM ET

The New York Liberty (10-2) arrive in Seattle on Sunday, riding one of the WNBA’s most potent offenses but also grappling with the first real injury setback to their backcourt.

Though the Liberty have opened the season with an .833 winning percentage, good for first in the Eastern Conference, their depth is about to be tested on the heels of the latest news.

Leading up to the game, the Liberty revealed that starting guard Sabrina Ionescu will not play in Sunday’s matchup against the Storm, marking the first time this season that Ionescu will be out of the lineup for New York.

Sabrina Ionescu (neck) ruled out Sunday.
— Underdog WNBA (@UnderdogWNBA) June 22, 2025

Through the first 12 games, New York’s attack has averaged 89.1 points per outing, ranking first in the league, while surrendering just 76.3 points, second-best defensively.

Coach Sandy Brondello has woven together a roster featuring six-time All-Star Breanna Stewart alongside 2022 assists leader Natasha Cloud and 2024 Finals MVP Jonquel Jones, even as Jones herself has been slowed by an ankle sprain suffered earlier this week.

However, one of the biggest contributors this season has been Ionescu, who is averaging 20.4 points, 5.2 assists, 4.1 rebounds and a team-best 1.8 steals per game.

Drafted No. 1 overall in 2020, the 27-year-old guard out of Oregon quickly established herself as one of the league's top talents.

In her 2022 campaign, she logged the fastest triple-double ever accomplished (and first in Liberty history) and just weeks later, notched another milestone by delivering the first 30-point triple-double in league history.

Beyond her statistical feats, Ionescu has collected three All-Star nods, three All-WNBA Team selections and played a pivotal role in New York’s inaugural WNBA championship in 2024.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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