Uncertainty continues to surround the WNBA as we all wait to see when a new CBA deal will finally be agreed upon. With nearly 80% of the league set to hit free agency, the future remains unclear for many players. Yet amid all that uncertainty, Sabrina Ionescu has made her intentions about the future crystal clear.

“It’s always the goal, to try to play for the same team as long as you can,” Sabrina Ionescu told Bleacher Report. “For me, getting drafted and being the franchise player in New York has always been something I’ve really cherished and honored. So I don’t think I’ll be really busy in this free agency period since New York is home, but I’m still excited to see how all of that shapes up.”

Since year one, the Liberty has been Sabrina Ionescu’s team, and she intends to keep it that way. Of course, this is the same Liberty side that let go of coach Sandy Brondello just a year after winning the championship under her leadership. That decision could very well have forced the hands of the big three of Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, and Ionescu to explore other options in free agency. But as things stand, Ionescu isn’t going anywhere.

And it looks like the other two might not be going anywhere either. In his exit interview, NY Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb expressed strong belief that the core will remain intact, saying he has the “utmost confidence” that Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, and Jonquel Jones will all be back.

Ionescu has already cemented her place in Liberty history, no matter what the rest of her career holds. She was one of the driving forces behind the franchise’s 2024 title run and delivered one of its most unforgettable moments, drilling a buzzer-beating three to seal Game 3. Last season may have been frustrating due to the injury issues she dealt with, despite averaging 18.2 points, 5.7 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game. But the former Oregon guard will be hoping things turn around next season.

She was one of the first players to welcome new head coach Chris DeMarco on social media, making her excitement about the appointment clear. But she took it a step further by showing up in person at DeMarco’s introductory press conference. If there was ever a sign of a franchise player ready to lock in with her new head coach, this was it.

It’s been six years of absolute brilliance in New York for Sabrina Ionescu. Since being picked No. 1 overall in the 2020 draft, she has not only helped deliver a championship but also built an impressive resume with four All-Star selections and four All-WNBA honors. Liberty fans will be desperate to see her back on the court for the team, but all of that can only happen if a new WNBA CBA deal is agreed…

Will Sabrina Ionescu and co even play next season?

The March 10 deadline has come and gone, and there is still no CBA deal in place. Over the past two days, the union and the league have been locked in intense negotiations at The Langham, a luxury hotel in Midtown Manhattan, with discussions stretching for nearly 12 hours each day.

According to reports, the WNBA has returned to the table with an improved offer. The league is now proposing a $6.2 million salary cap, an increase from its previous $5.75 million proposal. If accepted, the structure would see the supermax salary start at around $1.3 million in Year 1 and gradually rise to roughly $2 million by Year 6 of the deal.

But unfortunately, the offer wasn’t accepted. The reason behind the players rejecting it once again remains the same: the revenue-sharing model. Under the league’s proposal, players would receive about 15.5 percent of the total revenue over the lifetime of the CBA, according to The Athletic. The players, however, have made it clear they want a 26 percent share, which is already a lot less than their initial 40 percent demand.

While the deal still hasn’t been reached yet, Sabrina Ionescu remains optimistic about the negotiations.

“I think I’ve learned a lot,” Ionescu said in the same Bleacher Report interview. “This is my first CBA negotiation since it was already done when I arrived in 2020. I’m learning a lot and understanding how we can use our voice as players who have the opportunity to go out there and fight for what we believe in to be able to pave the way for the next generation.

She continued. “Obviously, a deal will get done at some point just like it does in every other league. It’s just understanding that sometimes it takes a little time and back-and-forth. But for me, it has been valuable to just learn and shape what the next five or six years will look like.”

Negotiations between the union and the league are still ongoing, but they are now running on borrowed time. If things don’t reach a conclusion soon, we could be looking at a scenario where the league starts losing games. That is definitely not what we want, and neither do the players.