Ever since the NY Liberty announced they were parting ways with Sandy Brondello, the question of the next HC is up in the air. But the front office’s challenge isn’t just about hiring; it’s about managing a roster in flux, too. They’ve got nine players heading into free agency this offseason, including three key anchors. Still, as per one analyst, the GM seems to have a firm grasp on the biggest uncertainty: Sabrina Ionescu.

This offseason, roughly 80 percent of the league will hit free agency, including Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, and Saby. While the team has navigated the uncertainties surrounding the other two stars before, the focus now is firmly on the No. 1 overall pick from the 2020 draft. Sabrina Ionescu is poised to become an unrestricted free agent for the first time in her career, following her rookie contract extension in 2023. But it seems Autumn Johnson already has a sense of what she’ll decide.

For the September 23rd episode of The Women’s Hoop Show, Jordan Robinson was joined by Autumn Johnson to break down WNBA playoffs and make some bold predictions. And, while doing so, Johnson ended up giving her prediction on Saby’s future with Liberty: “They have one pick in the 2026 draft, but again, this is one of those situations where they’re mad, they want to come back. I don’t see Sabrina going anywhere else. These are some of their anchor players.” she shared while explaining Liberty’s offseason situation. And immediately, her words clicked.

Here’s why. Fans seeking a silver lining could note Ionescu’s postgame comments. Though noncommittal, she framed the loss as motivation for both now and the future.

“I think we all know that the team never looks the same every single year… You can’t just want to be a part of it when you’re on top and enjoying a parade and popping champagne bottles; you have to be able to continue to commit and want to be the best for this organization,” Ionescu shared in the postgame press conference after the loss. “I’m excited for next year. I think we’re going to use this to continue to motivate us… We did everything we could with the opportunities that we had; it just didn’t fall our way with injuries [this year].”

Ionescu’s hints of staying in New York were also evident in her praise for Stewart, who’s already declared she’d be back, suggesting she’s eager to continue partnering with the two-time MVP well beyond their Olympic experiences. “There isn’t a player who I would admire more and would love to play alongside for the rest of my career than Stewie, because of how she comes out every single day, for practice, for games, for anything that she takes kind of head-on,” Saby had said.

Still and all, Liberty isn’t where Sabrina Ionescu’s options end and begin.

Sabrina Ionescu has other options, too.

While Saby has been candid about her willingness to stay with the NY Liberty as a free agent, she could still opt for other teams offering more intriguing proposals. One of them could be the Golden State Valkyries. That’s largely because Saby was born and raised in CA, just 30 minutes inland from San Francisco.

So, a homecoming that would be appealing for both sides. Right?  Yes, the Valks are a new team, and competing for a championship may be years away, but having Saby could definitely speed up the process—especially since the expansion team already made it to the playoffs in year one. It would also strengthen Golden State, as they were one of the lowest-scoring teams across the WNBA.

Adding one of the league’s best three-point shooters to play alongside Carla Leite, Kate Martin, and Veronica Burton would secure a young core of guards. But despite the hometown connection, there’s no guarantee Ionescu would leave Liberty, and that’s why there’s unrest around the team. At this time, Saby is surrounded by world-class talent.

Besides that, there is this thing that if the next WNBA CBA keeps the core designation, Ionescu could be the Liberty’s pick. A “core” lets a team control one player’s contract and offer a supermax, but each player can only be cored twice, and each lasts the length of their deal. This limits player freedom, prompting some, like Breanna Stewart, to sign one-year contracts, while Elena Delle Donne chose to sit out and retire. With Stewart’s cores used, the Liberty could target Ionescu, who might respond with short-term deals to shorten the team’s control, that is, if the rule remains in the new CBA.

So, what do you think will happen?