The New York Liberty announced major injury updates on Sabrina Ionescu and Satou Sabally ahead of Wednesday’s clash against the Phoenix Mercury. After making her season debut in Sunday’s 91-76 loss to the Dallas Wings, Ionescu sat out Monday’s back-to-back against the Portland Fire.
Ionescu was recovering from a preseason ankle sprain, forcing her to miss the first five games. She was out against the Fire citing injury management for the same ankle. However, the Liberty have changed her injury designation. Ionescu is dealing with back soreness. She was initially listed as questionable, but was downgraded to out.
It’s a tough blow for the Liberty as they continue to hit one low after another. They are 1-4 over their past five games, falling to 3-4 on the season. To make matters worse, Sabally, who missed the first four games because of a cyst, is back on the injury report with an illness.
She headed to the locker room in the first half of Monday’s back-to-back against Portland and didn’t return. Sabally is questionable for playing against her former team.
On a brighter note, New York will see Betnijah Laney-Hamilton return. She has missed the last three games due to personal reasons. Laney-Hamilton was questionable to play as well before being upgraded to available.
Breanna Stewart keeps it real as Liberty hit early roadblock amid Sabrina Ionescu, Satou Sabally injuries
The Liberty started strong with two wins in their first three outings, but it has all gone downhill since. They have lost their season series to the Fire, an expansion team, and have been unable to find a rhythm for 48 minutes. The injury bug impacting key players like Sabrina Ionescu, Satou Sabally and Leonie Fiebich has only made matters worse.
Still, Breanna Stewart, the Liberty’s best player thus far, remains confident. After losing 81-74 to the Fire on Monday, the former MVP said:
“It’s a learning experience for everyone. My message to the players in the locker room is like, ‘Nobody expected this.’ Not to say we thought it was going to be easy, because we definitely didn’t. But it’s going to take time. There’s going to be highs and lows.
“While it seems we’re in the lows right now, eventually we’ll get to a place where everybody’s really confident and comfortable with what’s going on. I’m happy it’s happening early [in the season] and not late.”
Stewart is averaging 21.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.4 blocks per game, shooting 45.4% from the field. Nobody else has averaged over 13 points. Stewart can only do so much without co-stars Ionescu and Sabally.
The Liberty will hope both players recover from their injuries and put together a healthy stretch over the next couple of weeks.
Where to watch Phoenix Mercury vs. New York Liberty game?
USA Network will nationally televise the Phoenix Mercury vs. New York Liberty game. KTVK and KPHE will televise it locally in Phoenix, while WWOR will provide coverage in New York. WNBA League Pass will stream the game online for global viewers 7:00 p.m. ET onwards. The Liberty are 5.5-point favorites to win, while Phoenix is +172 to cause an upset.
