The New York Liberty will take on the Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday night, but will do so without point guard Sabrina Ionescu.
New York had a back-to-back on Monday, and Ionescu was expected to miss that game due to rest. The Wednesday absence wasn’t expected, and the team said she is out due to a back injury.
The guard battled a foot injury during the preseason, and it caused her not to make her regular-season debut until last Sunday.
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She was listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game, and it was notable that the back injury was different from the foot issue that had bothered her during the preseason.
Ionescu is hopefully just day-to-day and will be able to use the extra rest on Wednesday to heal up for Friday night’s game, also against the Mercury.
The Liberty will need someone else on the roster to step up and help them break their losing streak.
After beginning the regular season 2-0, New York has lost four of its last five games, including three in a row.
Ionescu being able to play last Sunday against the Dallas Wings wasn’t enough of a boost to help the Liberty come away with a win. Dallas beat New York 91-76.
The point guard finished the game with 11 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists. Despite it being her first game of the season, she played 31 minutes, the second-most on the team.
Ionescu struggled shooting in her season debut. She finished 4 of 15 from the field, including 2 of 5 from three-point range.
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