Sabrina Ionescu of the New York Liberty will miss the start of the 2026 WNBA season due to a left ankle injury. She is expected to be reevaluated in two weeks after an MRI revealed no significant damage.
Key points
Sabrina Ionescu will miss the start of the 2026 WNBA season
She injured her left ankle during a game against the Connecticut Sun
An MRI revealed no significant injury
Ionescu will be reevaluated in two weeks
Sabrina IonescuNew York LibertyConnecticut SunDiamond Miller
Sabrina Ionescu injury update: Latest on Liberty star's ankle injury
On Monday, The New York Post reported that Ionescu, who injured her left ankle during a 79-67 victoryĀ overĀ theĀ Connecticut Sun, is expected to miss at least two weeks. The Liberty star had an MRI on Monday, revealing a left foot injury. Ionescu, who reportedly avoided "significant injury," is expected to be reevaluated in two weeks.
The Liberty guard drove for a layup around the 7:40 mark of the third quarter and landed awkwardly, rolling her left ankle. Ionescu's feet appeared to get tangled with Sun forwardĀ Diamond Miller. After the matchup, Ionescu was seen with a boot on her left leg.
"(Things are) positive right now," Liberty coach Chris DeMarco said of Ionescu's injury postgame. "We're just going to do the test tomorrow, and that's the only update I have."
"Obviously, it wasn't good to see," Liberty centerĀ Jonquel JonesĀ said. "Our fingers are crossed, and we'll just kind of handle it as we get more information."
Ionescu finished her day with six points on 2-of-8 shooting in just under 16 minutes of play. She played in 38 games last season for New York, averaging 18.2 points, 5.7 assists and 4.9 rebounds.
Q&A
How long will Sabrina Ionescu be out due to her ankle injury?
Sabrina Ionescu is expected to miss at least two weeks due to her left ankle injury.
What caused Sabrina Ionescu's ankle injury during the game?
Ionescu injured her ankle while driving for a layup and landing awkwardly, getting tangled with Diamond Miller.
When is Sabrina Ionescu expected to be reevaluated after her injury?
Ionescu is expected to be reevaluated in two weeks following her injury.
What was the outcome of the game when Sabrina Ionescu got injured?
The New York Liberty won the game against the Connecticut Sun with a score of 79-67.
Related Articles
MLBĀ·Injury Update
Two-time reigning winner Tarik Skubal falls from AL Cy Young favorite to off odds board due to elbow surgery
Tarik Skubal, two-time AL Cy Young winner, needs elbow surgery and could miss 2-3 months.
CBS Sports HeadlinesĀ·Ā·1 min read
Sports
What are loose bodies? Tarik Skubal's injury, surgery explained
Tarik Skubal will have surgery to remove loose bodies from his elbow, with a recovery time of 2-3 months.
Yahoo SportsĀ·Ā·1 min read
SportsĀ·Feature
Dani Pedrosa on Marc Marquez: The unexpected lesson from their Honda days
Dani Pedrosa shares unexpected lessons learned from Marc Marquez during their Honda days.
Yahoo SportsĀ·Ā·1 min read
MLBĀ·Feature
White Sox find an unlikely home run hero from their backup catcher
Drew Romo becomes home run hero for the White Sox in just five games!
Yahoo SportsĀ·Ā·1 min read
Sports
Hearts leap in Scottish league title race after beating Rangers with three rounds left
Hearts take a significant lead in the Scottish league title race after defeating Rangers 2-1.
Yahoo SportsĀ·Ā·1 min read
MLB
Mock Trade Breakdown: Lance McCullers Jr. to the Cubs, Depth Role, Fit, and Fantasy Impact
Analyzing the potential trade of Lance McCullers Jr. to the Cubs and its fantasy impact.
2000: Ann Wauters, Cleveland Rockers (USV Olympic, France)
28 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
1999: Chamique Holdsclaw, Washington Mystics (Tennessee)
29 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
1998: Margo Dydek, Utah Starzz (Fota Porta Gdynia, Poland)
30 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
1997: Tina Thompson, Houston Comets (Southern California)
Ionescu hurt the same left ankle during her rookie year, which cut her campaign short. She needed season-ending surgery. In 2026, Ionescu did not play in Unrivaled, the 3-on-3 professional league, due to an injury sustained during the 2025 WNBA season.
The Liberty, who won their first WNBA championship in 2024, had injury issues all of last season and were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Phoenix Mercury. Jones (ankle) andĀ Breanna StewartĀ (knee) missed 13 regular-season games each, while Ionescu (neck, toe) missed six. Former Liberty forward Nyara Sabally played in just 17 games due to a lingering knee injury.
New York will open the 2026 regular season hosting the Sun at Barclays Center on Friday, May 8 (7:30 p.m. ET, ION).
