Liberty Faces Another Setback

Seattle – The Liberty’s starting lineup took another hit this Sunday.

Coach Sandy Brondello announced that Sabrina Ionescu would be out of the game against the Storm due to neck tension. She began experiencing discomfort after the team’s long flight on Friday.

During Saturday’s practice, there was a moment when she, well, seemed to struggle a bit, massaging her neck and back. Brondello mentioned that Ionescu woke up on Sunday with a twisted neck, which is concerning.

“She had something similar last year, so we really want to be cautious. A few days off should hopefully help her prepare for the next game,” Brondello said.

Ionescu’s condition is being evaluated daily.

The Liberty will also be without her when they face Golden State on Friday.

She’s not the only starter sidelined today. Leonie Fevich is still abroad for the Eurobasket, and Johnkel Jones is expected to miss at least a month after aggravating her right ankle injury last week.

Jones initially suffered a low-grade ankle sprain during a game in Washington on June 5. After missing two games, she returned to play on Tuesday but unfortunately re-injured herself by landing awkwardly after going to the basket.

Brondello described the situation as “fluky” and doesn’t seem to be in a rush to bring Jones back too soon.

“We always check in with players about how they’re feeling. She believed she was fine to play,” Brondello explained. “It’s just unfortunate. She didn’t have the best landing space, and something like this can happen at any time.”

With Jones out, the team is preparing for a stretch without her, which could last about 4-6 weeks.

“You all see how important JJ is to our team and the way we want to play,” Brondello added. “But injuries are just part of the game. It’s a tough break. JJ is going to work hard during her recovery. In the meantime, Nyara Sabally, Isabelle Harrison, and Kennedy Burke really need to step up. You can’t just replace JJ’s skill set; it’s going to require a team effort.”