Nyara

Sabally

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.

Before Tuesday’s game, Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello said Sabally would be limited to 10 minutes in her first game action since July 16. She would not check in until the outcome was no longer in doubt, playing the final two minutes. New York’s playoff seed is locked in, but Thursday’s regular-season finale may be an opportunity to get Sabally a few more minutes to shake off the rust. Even if that is the case, fans should not get their hopes too high.

Tuesday’s game will be the first Sabally has played since July 16, so her minutes restriction for Tuesday’s game is unsurprising. The Liberty center will be limited to 10 minutes against the Mystics, which is unlikely to be enough to impact fantasy basketball for managers still competing. However, the goal is for Sabally to be ready for the playoffs, which begin on Sunday. New York is locked into the 5-seed regardless of what happens with their final two regular-season games.

Sabally won’t play on Friday, but she’ll dress and go through warmups for the second straight game as she gets ready to return to play. Head coach Sandy Brondello noted that both Sabally and Sabrina Ionescu are expected to play once the Liberty return to the east coast for their final two regular season games before the playoffs. Sabally will be a welcomed addition to the Liberty’s front court as she gives the team a different look in their front court. At her most healthy, Sabally presents a level of speed that’s difficult for opposing front court players to guard. But until then, the Liberty will rely upon quality minutes from Emma Meesseman in addition to Isabelle Harrison to give Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones a breather.

Sabally has been out since July 16 with a knee injury, but a return may be on the horizon. Most recently, while she was unavailable for Tuesday’s loss to Golden State, Sabally was on the bench in full uniform. With the Liberty having clinched a playoff spot, the priority in the team’s remaining regular-season games will be to get its players to full strength. Getting Sabally back into the fold would give the Liberty additional depth in the frontcourt, which remains a need despite adding Emma Meesseman in early August.

While Sabally will go through pregame warmups and dress for Tuesday’s contest, she will not play against Golden State. The reserve center has not played since July 16 against the Fever, leaving her on track to miss her 20th consecutive game. The Liberty will also be without Sabrina Ionescu on Tuesday (toe), but has recently seen Breanna Stewart and Natasha Cloud return after missing time due to injuries. New York holds a 2.5-game lead in the standings over Golden State, which is the current sixth seed.

Sabally is set to miss her 18th straight game as she continues to deal with a knee injury. Head coach Sandy Brondello reiterated on Thursday that Sabally is not expected to miss the rest of this season. The runway to the postseason, however, is getting shorter — including Thursday’s game, the Liberty have six games left on the schedule. Sabally has not played since July 11.

Sabally continues to miss time with a right knee injury, having last appeared in a game on July 16. With the Liberty down to their last seven games of the regular season, the question is whether Sabally will be healthy enough to play before the postseason. Starting center Jonquel Jones has averaged 29.4 minutes per game since the All-Star break, nearly seven minutes more than her pre-break average (22.9), and Sabally’s continued absence has been a factor. The good news for New York is that Breanna Stewart will return from her knee injury on Monday, giving the team a welcome infusion of frontcourt talent and depth as they prepare for the playoffs.

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.

Sabally last played a month ago on July 16 right before the All-Star break against the Indiana Fever. Since then Sabally has rested her right knee which has been bothering her all season in addition to going out to Germany for a few days to get special treatment on her right knee. Head coach Sandy Brondello told reporters on August 5 that Sabally was going to be re-evaluated on August 18. While Sabally will miss her 13th game in a row since before the All-Star break, news on her status for the rest of the season and the playoffs should be coming soon. Without Sabally, Jonquel Jones has been the Liberty’s only true center with sometimes Emma Meesseman switching over to play the five.