Sabrina Ionescu knows how quickly the game can be snatched. She’s dealt with serious injuries that have caused her to miss significant time in the past.
It’s why she said she never takes a moment on the court for granted.
So when Ionescu checked into Sunday’s game midway through the first quarter for the first time in three weeks, she soaked in the loud ovation from the fans at Barclays Center.
“My goal was, one, to just feel that joy again of being able to play,” she said after the Liberty’s 86-64 win. “Having no expectations, just kind of wanting to get my feet wet and be able to get out there again, obviously do whatever I can for the team to win.”
Ionescu didn’t post a flashy stat line. She finished with five points, three rebounds and three assists in 26 minutes while coming off the bench for the first time since 2021.
But those numbers don’t show how well she fits into the flow of the offense. She moved the ball well and was decisive.
“Sab is an all-around player, so her ability to pass, score, really just do all the things, and I think you saw it,” Satou Sabally said. “She reads the defense before it’s really set, so she knows where the ball needs to go. And I think that was just one example of her greatness, and she’ll get back into the game and get her rhythm, but it’s great to have her back.”
Sunday was Ionescu’s first game since May 24 and only her second of the season.
But Ionescu’s absence caused coach Chris DeMarco to experiment with different lineups and move players into varying positions.
Knowing that different players are comfortable being initiators on offense or handling the ball could be useful down the line.
With Ionescu back in the mix, the Liberty have their total personnel for the first time all season.
“She fits seamlessly into it,” Rebekah Gardner said of Ionescu. “So it’s awesome to have her back, and it just shows. We’re on a six-game winning streak, and that’s without her. So just imagine how it’s going to be moving forward with her.”
On Sunday, they extended that win streak to seven.
Breanna Stewart finished with a career-high seven blocks Sunday.
The performance reminded Sabally how relieved she is to have Stewart as a teammate rather than an opponent.
“She’s super long, and her timing is just great,” Sabally said. “So you can be really aggressive on the ball and run out to people because our back line is really solid. And yeah, she’s such a great defender.”
Sabally was surprised to learn Stewart, a seven-time All-Defensive player, has yet to win Defensive Player of the Year.
“Well, she’s making a case,” Sabally said.