Sabrina Ionescu has been a question mark all season for the New York Liberty, and the injury concerns are not going away. The four-time All-Star and one of the WNBA’s premier guards has dealt with a series of physical setbacks in 2026 that have limited her availability at the worst possible time for New York.
Ionescu missed the Liberty’s first five games of the 2026 campaign due to a foot injury she suffered in a preseason matchup against the Connecticut Sun. She made her season debut on May 24, scoring 11 points on 4-for-15 shooting and dishing out seven assists in 31 minutes against the Dallas Wings. The rust showed, but the signs were encouraging.
New York is just 3-4 and sitting in 11th place in the league, having lost three games in a row. With a healthy Ionescu considered essential to turning things around, another absence is a tough pill to swallow.
Sabrina Ionescu Listed Out for Wednesday Against Phoenix Mercury
Per Underdog WNBA, Ionescu has been listed out Wednesday with a back issue. The game against the Phoenix Mercury tips off at 7:00 p.m. ET.
The Liberty suffered a 74-81 home defeat against the Portland Fire in their last outing, with Breanna Stewart posting 25 points and 7 rebounds in a losing effort, as all three recent defeats came at home.
This matchup carries extra weight for New York. It was Phoenix who eliminated the Liberty from the first round of the playoffs last season, making Wednesday a chance for some early redemption. Without Ionescu, coach Chris DeMarco will again need Stewart and the supporting cast to carry the load.
In 2025, Ionescu averaged 18.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game, making her absence felt every time she is sidelined. The Liberty and Mercury clash Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. ET on MyNetworkTV.
