As fans sifted through the 2026 Unrivaled rosters, one thing jumped off the page: the loss of star power. Angel Reese opted out of season 2 after winning season 1 with Rose BC. DiJonai Carrington was on an involuntary absence due to an ankle injury she suffered while playing for the Minnesota Lynx. Sabrina Ionescu was simply not listed, with her exclusion unexplained. It turns out to be an injury that is keeping her out of Unrivaled season 2.

Unrivaled has announced that New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu was ruled unable to participate in on-court activities during the 3-on-3 league’s second season because of an injury she suffered during the WNBA season. No further details of the injury were revealed in the release.

“While I’m disappointed I couldn’t play this season, I’ll be rooting for the Phantom,” Ionescu said via the release. “I’m looking forward to working with Unrivaled through content and broadcast opportunities and continuing to support the league’s success.”

Ionescu finished the season in an intense physical playoff series against the Phoenix Mercury. Breanna Stewart was also struggling with an injured knee, but soldiered through and is back for Unrivaled. Sabrina could commentate from the sidelines for TNT and even appear in advertisements for Unrivaled, but without the on-court basketball. 

Even last year, before joining, her status was much speculated. It took months for her to finally sign on for her teammate, Breanna Stewart’s league. However, the reason was more straightforward, as it was revealed later. Sabrina could not complete the season as she jetted off to Asia for a Nike tour after playing her final game for Phantom BC on November 28. That was a commitment made before Unrivaled, which caused the initial holdup. However, the absence of Sabrina is a major loss for Unrivaled, who have invested heavily in the star. 

Last year, ESPN reported that Ionescu’s deal with the league, which provided her with an equity stake, is “unprecedented” and “historic.” ESPN‘s Kendra Andrews reported that Ionescu’s contract will put her “in a category of her own.”

However, the Phantoms are still stacked without Ionescu with Dana Evans, Kelsey Plum, Satou Sabally, Aliyah Boston, Natasha Cloud, Kiri Iriafen, and Tiffany Hayes. They are likely to have a much better campaign than last year’s 4-10 record. On the other hand, Ionescu will likely alternate between her role at Unrivaled and the rebuilding season in New York.

Sabrina Ionescu could be the central figure under Chris DeMarco

The New York Liberty is rich in star power with the likes of Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, and plenty of others on their 2025 squad. In the offseason, the team fired Sandy Brondello, who has won 2 WNBA titles as a coach and never missed the playoffs, after falling in the first round in 2025. Libs took weeks to hire a new coach but finally welcomed Golden State Warriors assistant Chris DeMarco.

Coming back to Ionescu, she was already a leader in the Liberty locker room. However, under DeMarco, her importance could become even more prominent. How? 

Ionescu and her relationship with Steph Curry reportedly played an important part in the Liberty hiring decision. That was evident when Ionescu was spotted courtside with DeMarco and Curry at a Golden State Warriors game. Ionescu was also present at DeMarco’s introductory conference in December. 

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“I spent some time with Sabrina. She’s phenomenal. I’ve talked to all of our players here at the Liberty, just getting acquainted with everything,” DeMarco said after his last game with the Warriors. The new Liberty coach was released on December 30 by the Warriors, a month after being reportedly hired. 

The real team building for 2026 will only begin now for the Liberty.  They are already behind schedule compared to other teams with new coaches. And DeMarco, being a first-time WNBA head coach, will require plenty of guidance from Ionescu. If he is going to reshape the Liberty, he’ll need a steady hand. With Stewart tied up at Unrivaled, that leadership might fall squarely on Ionescu’s shoulders.