Liberty Star Sabrina Ionescu Might Be Unavailable to Start WNBA Season

News ArticlePublishedMay 03, 2026 at 11:16 PM EDTBy Megan ArmstrongThe New York Liberty are the odds-on favorite to win the 2026 WNBA Finals.The Liberty leapfrogged the Las Vegas Aces, the reigning champions and winners of three of the past four championships, after going all-in during free agency last month. Not only did the Liberty re-sign Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, and Sabrina Ionescu to retain the "Big 3" that won the franchise's first WNBA title in 2024, but they also signed three-time All-Star forward Satou Sabally to form a "Big 4." On paper, the Liberty are neck-and-neck with the Aces as top-tier contenders. But the games aren't played on paper, and injuries are constantly looming as a threat to derail any season. The Liberty learned that last season, and they were just reminded of it again....Ionescu landed awkwardly after driving to the bucket early in the third quarter of the Liberty's preseason game in Connecticut on Sunday. The four-time All-Star guard immediately limped to the locker room and did not return to the game.After the game, first-year Liberty head coach Chris DeMarco began the postgame presser by telling reporters that Ionescu "rolled her ankle" and would undergo an MRI on Monday.