Sunday’s slate of WNBA games provides fans with some exciting matchups, but the one that really stands out is the clash between the New York Liberty and Seattle Storm. The Liberty, second in the standings, will host the Storm, currently fifth, in what promises to be an entertaining game with plenty of star power on display.
One piece of good news coming out of the Liberty camp is that All-Star guard Sabrina Ionescu looks healthy for Sunday’s game at the Barclays Center. Ionescu is not listed on the injury report and is expected to start her 17th game of the season.
Sabrina Ionescu’s Injury Concerns This Season
Since making her debut in 2020, Ionescu has developed into one of the league’s top players. The talented guard offers the Liberty a true triple threat, capable of dribbling, passing, and shooting at a high level.
Unfortunately, Ionescu has had to deal with injury concerns over the last few months. In December 2024, she had to undergo surgery on her right thumb after suffering a torn UCL in the WNBA Finals against the Minnesota Lynx. The injury forced her to miss portions of the Unrivaled tournament, which took place from January to March.
Ionescu looked ready for action when she returned for the Liberty’s season opener and played 31 minutes against the Las Vegas Aces on May 17.
Ionescu was sidelined once again in late June when she was forced to miss the Liberty’s game against the Storm due to a neck injury. Without the four-time All-Star, New York fell to an 89-79 defeat in Seattle.
The game against Seattle was Ionescu’s only absence of the season. The 27-year-old has battled through any discomfort, playing in all four of the Liberty’s games since the loss in Seattle.
10 PTS in the 3Q for Sabrina Ionescu 🔥
LAS-NYL | League Pass pic.twitter.com/Jyqa0soXQu
— WNBA (@WNBA) July 4, 2025
In her last outing against the Los Angeles Sparks on July 3, she played 35 minutes and recorded 20 points, six assists, six rebounds, and two steals.
When healthy, Ionescu remains one of the WNBA’s most consistent performers. The California native currently leads the Liberty roster in steals (1.6) and ranks second in points (18.7) and assists (5.1).
New York Experiencing Mid-Season Mini-Slump
After securing their first-ever WNBA championship in 2024, the Liberty came out firing in 2025. An opening-day win against the Aces was followed by a dominant performance against the Chicago Sky. Sandy Brondello’s team went on to win their next seven games to begin the year with a perfect 9-0 record.
New York eventually dropped their first game of the season against the Indiana Fever on June 14, and the team has stumbled in the last few weeks. A 3-5 record over the last eight games has seen the Liberty fall to second in the standings behind the Lynx.
The Liberty will be looking to string some wins together as they aim to keep the pressure on the Lynx, but it won’t be easy. They face a tricky run of games with the Storm, Aces and Dream next on the schedule, followed by back-to-back games against the Caitlin Clark-led Fever.
