Sabrina Ionescu’s Ankle Injury Could Spell Trouble for New York Liberty’s 2026 Title Hopes

The New York Liberty are currently a slight title favorite, right now, according to DraftKings, over the defending champions, the Las Vegas Aces, because of the talent on the roster of the three stars, including Sabrina Ionescu. 

But an ankle injury that Ionescu suffered in preseason action vs the Connecticut Sun over the weekend, and now it might cost New York because Ionescu is going to miss the first two weeks of the season. It’s a concern for the 2024 WNBA Champs because Ionescu, along with Brianna Stewart, was the catalyst of the Liberty last season, and New York is essentially running it back with the same roster without Natasha Cloud. Now they don’t have their star guard to start the season. Here’s a quick breakdown of what it could look like for New York. 

The Injury and How it Happened

The former Oregon Duck rolled the ankle on Sunday after a drive to the basket, getting her feet tangled with the Sun’s Diamond Miller on the play. Ionescu stayed down for a few seconds before walking with a slight limp towards the bench. The star was seen in a walking boot after the game, which was a sign that this wasn’t a good sight to see.

An MRI on Monday revealed, however, that the good news of major injury was avoided, but she is forced out of the first two weeks of the regular season, which could spell doom for New York in the long term if not fixed right away. I have a move that could be perfect for the Liberty at this moment in time.

A Move That New York Could Make TO STABLIZE THINGS UNTIL IONESCU COMES BACK

There is a move out there that could help the 2024 WNBA Champs backcourt until the superstar Ionescu comes back from her injury, which could stabilize New York’s backcourt right away. It might involve making some room in the margins, but there is a guard that has a similar playstyle to Ionescu, who just got cut by the Chicago Sky. Hailey Van Lith, who was cut on Monday because the Sky wanted to go in a different direction with style of play, is having a great preseason statistically, averaging 12.5 points per game off the bench on 70% shooting. 

Let me repeat that, 70% SHOOTING from a GUARD, IS OUTSTANDING. New York should be one of the teams to contact Van Lith. Van Lith has already had some teams contact her. I would hope New York made a call, because that could be a good get for the team for the long haul as well as the short term, while Ionescu is out. 

Does This Spell Trouble for New York 

This doesn’t necessarily spell trouble for the Liberty’s title chances, especially if they fill the point guard spot well, even if they don’t get Van Lith. But the stability that Ionescu brings to the team as a huge veteran at the point guard role could be considered irreplaceable, and if the star point guard is out longer than two weeks, New York’s season could be in a tailspin really quickly. So it will be a case of wait-and-see for New York in this situation. 

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