Kennedy

Burke

On Thursday night Ionescu became the first player in Liberty franchise history to record 11 assists without a turnover in a single game. To end her regular season prior to the playoffs, Ionescu registered at least nine assists in each of her last three games which ties the longest streak in her career. She also recorded her 21st double-double of her career and fourth of the 2025 regular season. Ionescu’s 11 assists were to five different teammates including five registered alongside Breanna Stewart who she’s developed an almost telepathic chemistry with. Ionescu also made sure to find the Liberty’s other front court players in Jonquel Jones and Nyara Sabally for two assists each in addition to wings Leonie Fiebich and Kennedy Burke cutting to the basket off the ball.

Burke came alive in the second half for the Liberty especially when her team struggled to score points in the paint. She set her season scoring high in a half with 13 points and did so mostly on drives right to the basket which set the Storm’s defense on their heels. Burke was also super impactful defensively, disrupting drives from Skylar Diggins including a key stop at the rim with 1:42 left in regulation. Initially ruled a foul on Burke, head coach Sandy Brondello challenged the call and won. Burke finished with a +17, which led her team on Friday night and was her highest plus/minus tally of the season.

Ionescu will miss her fourth straight game since suffering an injury to her left toe during a practice on August 27. While Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello noted Ionescu is much better and will play when the team returns home for a game on Tuesday, she expressed that it has taken longer than expected for Ionescu to return. Brondello explained that the delay was because of Ionescu’s comfort level and the fact that she struggled pushing off while running without pain. On Tuesday the Liberty started Kennedy Burke in Ionescu’s place, but expect Marine Johannès and Rebekah Gardner to have meaningful minutes as well on Friday night.

Ionescu has missed New York’s last three games with a toe injury. During Thursday’s practice, the Liberty guard was able to get in some individual work and end-to-end sprinting. Kennedy Burke started Tuesday’s loss to the Valkyries, a game where the Liberty could only tally 63 points. To say the team needs Ionescu back, especially with the postseason on the horizon, would be an understatement.

The Liberty will make another starting lineup change on Tuesday, replacing Emma Meeseman with Burke. Burke has started eight games this season for New York and is averaging career-highs in points, assists, field goal percentage and three-point percentage. She’ll offer floor spacing from the opening tip while Meeseman bolsters an already strong bench as New York looks to avoid a second straight loss. The Liberty is two games in the loss column ahead of the Valkyries.

Burke will earn her seventh start of the season on Monday, as she replaces Natasha Cloud (nose) in the opening unit. New York is also welcoming Breanna Stewart back to the lineup after a knee injury kept her on the sideline for the previous 13 games. The lineup changes send Marine Johannes and Emma Meeseman back to the bench, where they’ll lead a strong reserve unit. Burke will likely rejoin the bench unit once Cloud returns. In the meantime, the Liberty will look to end a two-game losing streak on Monday when they face the Sun.

Sidelined since injuring her knee during a July 26 game against the Sparks, Stewart has been cleared to return on Monday. The Liberty did not clarify how much she’ll play, but fantasy managers should anticipate a minutes restriction with this being Stewart’s first game in a month. Emma Meesseman has been the starter in Stewart’s absence, but even if she moves to the bench, the in-season signing will remain prominent in the Liberty rotation. Leonie Fiebich, who has averaged 30 minutes per game since the All-Star break, and Kennedy Burke are two other players whose playing time may decrease with Stewart back in the lineup.

Harrison has been upgraded since being in concussion protocol since August 10, the day after she played for 14 minutes in the Liberty’s August 10 game against the Lynx. Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello told reporters on Saturday that Harrison “was almost there” when it came to her return, and that Brondello expects Harrison, Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu all to be able to play this coming week. While Harrison has been out, forward Kennedy Burke has played meaningful minutes alongside Jonquel Jones and Emma Meesseman especially while Stewart has been out.

Thursday’s game will be the fifth Harrison has missed since entering the league’s concussion protocol. With Breanna Stewart and Nyara Sabally also out, the Liberty will again be shorthanded in the frontcourt. While Stephanie Talbot has picked up some minutes off the bench, wing Kennedy Burke has been the most-used frontcourt reserve. The Liberty rely primarily on starters Emma Meesseman, Leonie Fiebich and Jonquel Jones, with the latter two playing at least 30 minutes in Tuesday’s win over the Lynx.

Harrison will remain in concussion protocol after she sustained one following the Liberty’s 83-71 loss to the Lynx on August 10. Without Harrison—yet another front court player in addition to Breanna Stewart and Nyara Sabally who both remain out—the Liberty’s front court rotation shrinks and Jonquel Jones, Emma Meesseman and Kennedy Burke will all have to step up. Expect some more minutes from Leonie Fiebich and Stephanie Talbot at the four spot especially since Burke is still getting back into game-level conditioning.