A regular preseason game for the NY Liberty took a turn that could significantly determine the team’s ceiling in the upcoming games, and to be honest, it isn’t looking quite promising for them. The Liberty capped off their preseason with a win over the Connecticut Sun, but it was the injury to their veteran guard Sabrina Ionescu that got the major spotlight. Now, fresh updates on Ionescu’s injury have heightened tensions among fans, leaving the hoops community to do the talking and address some of the franchise’s free agency decisions. Every past decision begins to be viewed under the microscope when a title contender suddenly looks thin at a pivotal position. There is one lingering question- did the Liberty miscalculate when it mattered most?

In an Instagram post, ESPN shared a glimpse of the entire sequence of play during the Sun’s game that led to Ionescu’s injury, along with the heartbreaking update for the Liberty fans. The caption noted that Ionescu will definitely miss the team’s season-opener and will only be re-evaluated after two weeks, meaning the Liberty could miss their veteran guard for those two weeks as well.

“Sabrina Ionescu will miss the Liberty’s regular-season opener and be re-evaluated in two weeks after rolling her ankle against Connecticut over the weekend, the team announced,” the caption read. “An MRI revealed no major injury to the ankle.”

The sequence of play unfolded in the third quarter, with just over 2 minutes left on the clock. Sabrina Ionescu drove towards the opposition rim and tried to score a perfect layup, which she missed. But subsequently had an awkward fall after her feet got tangled with Connecticut Sun forward Diamond Miller during landing. Ionescu was taken off the court, ending her night with 6 points on 2 of 8 shooting as the Liberty clinched a 79-67 win.

Head coach Chris DeMarco had hinted after the win that the injury wasn’t serious and that Ionescu would get MRI scans the following day. “(Things are) positive right now,” he said. “We’re just going to do the test tomorrow, and that’s the only update I have.” Scan reports suggest the Liberty guard has sustained a left ankle injury, which isn’t a “significant one.”

But the major concern with this injury is that Ionescu suffered an injury to the same ankle during her rookie season at the W. It turned out to be a season-ending one as she did go through a surgery immediately. Her fate seems to be different this time around, but only time will tell how she recovers from this early setback in the season.

For the New York Liberty, this couldn’t have come at a worse time. The franchise already has its star signing, Satou Sabally, in a day-to-day status and didn’t play any preseason games. As a result, the star-studded Liberty roster suddenly seems a bit thin, prompting fans to share their perspectives on social media, especially regarding the franchise’s approach with some players in the offseason.

Liberty Face Tricky Questions As Backcourt Depth Gets Tested Early

“The irony of this is announced the day Natasha Cloud signs somewhere else,” a fan wrote.

“🤔 We Rethinking that Cloud let go now huh?” stated another.

Several fans, including this one, quickly raised questions on the New York Liberty’s front office decision not to retain Natasha Cloud in free agency. Liberty GM Jonathan Kolb had cited roster fit as one of the major reasons for not going behind Cloud in the offseason. And after Sabrina Ionescu’s injury, fans feel the franchise should have reconsidered that decision again.

But for now, it’s too late as Cloud has been roped by the Chicago Sky on the same day as Ionescu’s injury, leaving that option on the table for the Liberty. Now, it isn’t that the Liberty doesn’t have any formidable backcourt players. They still have players like Rebekah Gardner on the roster, but Cloud’s dynamism could have given the team an extra edge in the perimeters.

We’ve already seen last season, when Cloud synced perfectly in the Liberty, scoring 10.1 points and dishing out 5.1 assists. And subsequently could have helped the Liberty immensely during this injury-laden phase.

“So bummed that I won’t get to see her play in Portland. 😕 💚💛💛💚” remarked another. 

Many fans had expressed anticipation for the NY Liberty’s game against the Portland Fire on May 12. After all, it would have marked Ionescu’s return to Oregon, where she had a decorated career with the Oregon Ducks. Courtesy of her collegiate career in Oregon, Ionescu also had a major following in Portland, located in northern Oregon.

It would also be a kind of full-circle moment for Ionescu, as she would return to the place where she launched her career. But as fate would have it, this wasn’t meant to be in Portland Fire’s first season in the W.

“In what sport do we play the star players during pre-season. Wbna needs to stop this,” added a netizen. 

“Hopefully that’s not Achilles doesn’t look like she rolled it tho,” chimed in another. 

Now, it’s a regular occurrence for most WNBA teams to allow their starters and veteran players to log a few minutes during the preseason. Even this year, teams such as the Indiana Fever rolled out Caitlin Clark and the Las Vegas Aces did the same with A’ja Wilson.

It’s mainly to give these starters some valuable minutes under their belt before they step into the regular season, so they don’t look rusty or out of touch. Head coach Chris DeMarco did the same with Ionescu, but it’s just an unfortunate mishap for the franchise that it led to. The only silver lining is that there haven’t been any reports of an Achilles tear, and it’s just an ankle injury.

With the re-evaluation two weeks later, head coach DeMarco will re-assess his strategies, at least for the next few games, to fit his team without Sabrina Ionescu. Their regular season opener is on May 8 against the Connecticut Sun.