Leonie Fievich, a player for Liberty, admits she isn’t really the patient type.
But with each passing day, her tolerance is being pushed as she remains unable to play.
Fievich has been out since July 3 after sustaining a left foot injury during a game where her team triumphed over the Minnesota Lynx with a score of 99-86. She played for 36 minutes that day but mentioned that she “took a little bit of a wrong step.” Despite feeling pain the next day, she still went to practice.
Unfortunately, the pain persisted.
Given the severity of her symptoms, she underwent an MRI, among other tests, to assess the issue. When she spoke to reporters for the first time since getting injured on Wednesday, Fievich chose not to disclose her official diagnosis.
Regardless, the test results prompted her and her team to decide that taking an indefinite break was the best course of action.
“I feel good,” she shared just before Liberty’s narrow 95-94 loss to the Sky, which took place just before the All-Star break. “We are making progress and getting better with each day.”
As for when she’ll return, Fievich doesn’t have a solid timeline yet. This uncertainty has raised questions about her potential spot on the German national team for the upcoming 2026 FIBA World Cup, happening from September 4 to September 13.
She expressed her concern over her ability to participate in the World Cup, emphasizing that she was “of course” worried after tweaking her left foot.
“You really want to avoid injuries, especially in a World Cup year,” she explained. “But beyond that, like any athlete, I detest being sidelined and not being able to contribute to the team.”
Fievich was hesitant to confirm if she’d play through the pain if it wasn’t a World Cup year, noting she was being particularly careful because of the upcoming tournament.
“It’s not that I’m prioritizing it directly because the World Cup is approaching, but this tournament holds significant weight for us,” she remarked, wanting to ensure her health going into it.
The Liberty definitely feels the absence of Fievich’s skills and defensive versatility, especially after losing another player, Sabally Sato, to a concussion last month.
New York has recorded 10 wins with Fievich in the lineup but has struggled with only 4 wins and 8 losses without her.
Seeing her team face difficulties has fueled Fievich’s urgency to return, even though she hasn’t yet been cleared to play.
“The team is having a tough time right now. We’re definitely struggling a bit,” Fievich said. “The win against Dallas was crucial not only for our standings but also for our mentality as a group. Let’s build on that and see if we can keep progressing. Yes, winning is important, but so is our development.”
Fievich mentioned she’s making daily strides in her recovery.
“I’ve been dedicating seven hours a day at this facility for the past week, trying my best,” she noted. “Tomorrow, I might feel great—or I might be sore. It all depends on how the day goes.”
The last couple of weeks have been frustrating for her, largely due to factors beyond her control.
“I would love to be on the court right now,” she admitted. “It’s certainly testing my patience to be extra careful. But there’s no getting around it; you have to take it slow.”
