The CBA standoff stirred uncertainty over the 2026 WNBA season. While the WNBPA and WNBA are pushing for a ‘mutually agreeable’ solution, the activities of star players are drawing attention. On one side, WNBA fans lashed out at Nneka Ogwumike for the Project B signing, and they got news about Sabrina Ionescu.
Luckily, the New York Liberty star is not involved in any basketball-related activity; rather, she will be actively engaged in the growth of women’s sports.
Sabrina Ionescu Joins Bay FC
The news came well before the start of the 2025 season, with the 27-year-old invested to become part of the National Women’s Soccer League franchise Bay FC. The league also announced the formation of a new advisory board, comprising athletes, investors, and cultural icons, who will focus on marketing, branding, fan engagement, and player initiatives, starting in 2026.
They added the four-time WNBA All-Star to the committee, alongside Sue Bird, as another representative of the league. Commissioner Jessica Berman said the group will serve as mentors and cultural connectors, helping to expand the league’s reach through partnerships and appearances in NWSL campaigns — a move that underscores the growing influence of women’s sports.
At the time of investment, the WNBA champion said, “I am excited to join Bay FC as an investor and commercial advisor for the latest NWSL team. I have full faith in the club’s vision and its potential to make a profound impact within and beyond women’s soccer. … As someone with deep ties to the Bay Area, this opportunity holds even more significance, and I am truly honored to be a part of such a special endeavor to continue to grow women’s sports.”
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The guard is famous and has a profound impact on society. In recent statistics, Caitlin Clark led the merchandise sales, while the Liberty star stands in third position and is the only veteran in the top-3 rankings. Interestingly, with free agency looming, the player’s future with the franchise is under scrutiny.
Sabrina Ionescu Talks About Her New York Liberty Future
The Liberty GM discussed keeping the core of the team intact for the upcoming season, and some players also hinted at their intentions to stay with the 2024 champion franchise. The former Oregon player is one of those who is looking to run it back with the NY side.
In the exit interview, after the exit in the first round of the playoffs, Ionescu said, “I’m excited for next year. I think we’re going to use this to continue to motivate us. I think you’ve got to cherish those years where everything seems to be going well, where you’re healthy, you got the players out there, and this year just wasn’t our year with that. That’s something out of our control. We can see that tonight, knowing we did everything we could with the opportunities that we had, it just didn’t fall our way with injuries [this year].”
The 2020 rookie added that the team might be different next season, but the front office knows its core, and also players looking to stay with the franchise through thick and thin. While her recent development indicates her influence on women’s sport, her comments hint at a possible return to the Liberty team.