Even before the engagement boom in the WNBA, Sabrina Ionescu used to be one heck of a basketball talent. And with the level of performance she has been known for comes a price tag. Her team, the New York Liberty, is hitting a rough patch in the 2025 WNBA season. Once the team to beat, the Liberty has been crippling with injuries and making things messy.
With a 19-10 record, they’re still near the top of the standings, but the fancy record swept away key frontcourt players. The list includes biggies like Breanna Stewart, Nyara Sabally, and Kennedy Burke, who have left their roster thin. As they limp toward the playoffs, the Liberty are leaning hard on star guard Ionescu to keep them afloat, but it’s a risky game plan that could derail their championship dreams.
Liberty Might Need To Rethink Sabrina Ionescu’s Commitments
Facing a tough stretch, including a recent four-game losing skid, the Liberty need more than just one player to shine. Ionescu’s been a superstar, but asking her to do it all might be pushing her too far. With the Indiana Fever coming up on August 5, 2025, at Barclays Center, the Liberty need to find balance fast to hold onto their spot among the league’s elite.
🏀 @Kia Players of the Month 🏀
— WNBA (@WNBA) August 4, 2025
Sabrina Ionescu: Eastern Conference
21.4 PPG, 5.5 RPG, and 6.6 APG (Team Record: 6-4)
Napheesa Collier: Western Conference
23.1 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 3.1 APG (Team Record: 9-3)#KiaPOTM | #WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/dzAT0l6ksO
The Liberty’s plan to weather their injury storm relies heavily on the 4x WNBA All-Star, and it’s putting their title hopes at risk. Since Stewart went down with a knee bruise five games ago, Ionescu’s been carrying the team. She’s averaging a whopping 27.4 points, 7 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.8 steals over 173 minutes. That’s 14 more minutes than anyone else on the roster.
She’s taking 18.6 shots a game and running the offense when Natasha Cloud’s on the bench. This workload is a lot, even for a star like Ionescu. She’s been electric, dropping 137 points over five games, outpacing Jonquel Jones’ 79, but the Liberty can’t keep leaning on her alone. Their recent 87-78 win over the Connecticut Sun snapped a losing streak.
However, it wasn’t enough to secure their No. 2 seed, with Atlanta, Phoenix, and Indiana nipping at their heels. A new face might help lighten Ionescu’s burden and keep the Liberty’s playoff dreams alive.
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Liberty Needs To Look Away From Overloading Sabrina Ionescu
The Liberty got a boost with Emma Meesseman’s season debut against the Sun. She dropped 11 points, two rebounds, and three assists in just 17 minutes. “She’s a game-changer,” in Ionescu’s words.
As a former WNBA champ, Meesseman could be key, but she needs time to mesh with the team. Meanwhile, players like Jonquel Jones and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton must step up to share the scoring load.
The Liberty’s recent skid of losses to the Sparks, Dallas, and even the league-worst Sun is enough to ring bells that they can’t rely on Ionescu’s heroics alone. Their defense, ranked fifth at 80.2 points allowed per game, needs to tighten up, especially without Stewart’s presence in the paint.
With the Fever game looming, the Liberty need their depth to shine. If Meesseman and others can take some weight off Ionescu’s shoulders, New York might just keep their championship hopes alive. Otherwise, burning out their star could cost them everything.