Sabrina Ionescu is set to make her season debut Sunday when the Liberty take on the Dallas Wings at Barclays Center.
A left foot injury sustained in a preseason finale on May 3 forced the star to miss the first five games of the regular season.
Her return Sunday comes on the front end of a back-to-back with the team hosting the Portland Fire on Monday. The team will discuss with performance staff, per head coach Chris DeMarco, if Ionescu will play in back-to-backs upon her return.
“Just taking it day at a time. Tomorrow for sure,” said Ionescu, who was a full participant in Saturday’s practice.
The team still hasn’t disclosed the exact injury to Ionescu’s left foot. The guard avoided specifics when asked about it following Saturday’s practice.
“I had some structural damage, but thankfully it responded really quickly, came back,” she said. “It’s nothing that’s going to sideline me or need surgery. So thankfully, once it heals, I’m good to go. Really excited to be able to be back and kind of work myself back into feeling good as it continues to heal.”
The return reunites her with co-stars Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart in the starting lineup. The ex-Oregon Ducks — Satou Sabally and Ionescu — are also expected to share the court at Barclays Center Sunday.
Similarly to Ionescu’s status, DeMarco didn’t disclose if Sabally will play both Sunday and Monday games.
Thursday’s loss to the Golden State Valkyries was Sabally’s first regular season game after dealing with a cyst.
Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, who was active in Saturday’s practice, won’t play Sunday. DeMarco cited personal reasons for the absence. She also missed the loss against Golden State.
WHOLE TEAM BACK
For the first time as Liberty head coach, DeMarco had all 12 active roster players — plus both developmental contract players — in the building.
Leonie Fiebich didn’t practice but watched from the baseline inside Barclays Center’s practice facility. She isn’t available Sunday, but a regular season debut Monday is possible, per DeMarco.
Her Spanish club teammate, Raquel Carrera, was present and participated in Saturday’s practice.
Carrera is available for Sunday’s matchup against the Wings. It’ll be her first WNBA game with the Liberty, who acquired her rights in a 2022 trade that sent guard AD Durr to the Atlanta Dream.
Fiebich and Carrera helped lift Valencia Basket to its fourth-consecutive Liga Femenina Endesa championship on May 17.
“[She’s coming off a championship. She’s obviously in shape. Very good big at reading the game,” said the head coach.
“We’re excited [of] what she brings.”
The 24-year-old is slated to be a contributing member off of DeMarco’s bench.
“I really think now is a good time for me because I’m [coming from my ACL injury two years ago]. So now I’m really feeling good,” Carrera said. “New York had my rights for four years so now I think is the moment. I’m really happy to be here.”
MALEY NOT PHOENIX’S MISSING PIECE
Anneli Maley is back with the Liberty on a developmental player contract, the team announced Saturday. Her return comes after she spent a week with the Phoenix Mercury days after being one of many Liberty training camp cuts.
“It was good. The girls were nice. Phoenix is sunny,” Maley said of her weeklong experience with the Mercury. “They’re a very professional organization. I really was there for just a second. From what I got to experience, they’re a great team. Unfortunately, they didn’t see me as a piece they wanted in their puzzle, and that’s OK, I’m not everyone’s puzzle piece, I guess.”
The Australian got the call from her agent that she would return to the franchise, which induced “happy tears.”
The forward described the experience of bouncing around as “hard,” but is willing to go through the fight to stay in the league.
“What’s the alternative for me, you know? Like, I’m trying so hard to work my way into a roster, and I will take getting waived and picked up and moved around and stuff 10 times over if it means that I can get my foot in the door somewhere.”
Maley averaged 13 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists while on the Liberty’s preseason roster.