NEW YORK (AP) – Sabrina Ionescu is set to make her season debut for the New York Liberty after recovering from a foot injury sustained during the preseason.
The star guard practiced on Saturday and confirmed she is prepared to play against the Dallas Wings on Sunday.
Ionescu’s Recovery and Excitement
“It’s exciting to me,” Ionescu expressed following practice. “I haven’t had a regular-season game yet, so I’m excited. It feels like it’s been a while. It hasn’t, but it feels like it’s been forever having to watch from the sidelines.”
Details of the Injury
Ionescu, who averaged 18.2 points, 5.7 assists, and 4.9 rebounds last season, was aware that her injury was not severe when she fell during a game against Connecticut on May 3. However, she anticipated missing some games.
“I knew I was going to be out for a little bit, and thankfully, I came back a lot sooner than I was supposed to with returning now,” she noted. “So I’m really excited about that. I had some structural damage, but thankfully it responded quickly, came back. It was nothing that was going to sideline me or need surgery.”
Coach’s Strategy and Team Status
Coach Chris DeMarco indicated that Ionescu would face a minutes restriction during the game, and he was uncertain whether she would also participate in the following match against Portland. The Liberty recorded a 3-2 record in her absence and are currently engaged in a seven-game homestand.
Other Team Updates
While Ionescu returns, the Liberty will still be without Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, who is unavailable for personal reasons. DeMarco confirmed that she would not play on Sunday, although she was seen practicing on Saturday.
The Liberty are nearing full health, as Satou Sabally made her season debut in a loss to Golden State on Thursday. Additionally, Leonie Fiebich has been practicing after arriving in New York following a championship win in a Spanish league.
Raquel Carrera, a Spanish forward drafted by Atlanta in 2021 and subsequently traded to New York, is also ready to make her debut in the WNBA after playing overseas for several years.