Oregon homecoming derailed for injured Sabrina Ionescu, Satou Sabally

Published: Wednesday, May 13, 2026 at 7:03 am

Oregon Homecoming Derailed for Liberty Stars Ionescu and Sabally

PORTLAND, Ore. – The New York Liberty's highly anticipated trip to Portland has been overshadowed by injuries to key players, Sabrina Ionescu and Satou Sabally. The team faced the Fire on Tuesday night, losing 98-96, and will be without the star duo for Thursday's rematch.

Ionescu, who sustained a left foot injury during the Liberty's preseason finale on May 3, will not be reevaluated until early next week. Despite the injury, she traveled with the team to Portland.

Sabally, who played alongside Ionescu at Oregon, has yet to make her Liberty debut. She missed the team's preseason games for reconditioning and has been sidelined with a cyst. While considered day-to-day by coach Chris DeMarco, Sabally did not join the team in Portland.

The absence of Ionescu and Sabally is particularly disappointing for fans, as Ionescu had been a vocal advocate for a WNBA team in Portland. The city was awarded an expansion franchise, the Fire, in September 2024, alongside the Toronto Tempo. Ionescu, the No. 1 overall pick in 2020, signed a three-year deal with the Liberty this offseason, keeping her in New York through 2028. Sabally is signed through next season.

Adding to the Liberty's woes, Rebecca Allen's season debut remains on hold due to soreness in her left leg. Allen missed both preseason games for reconditioning and is still not ready to play.

BNN's Perspective: The absence of Ionescu and Sabally is a significant blow to the Liberty and a letdown for Oregon fans eager to see their former college stars. While injuries are an unfortunate part of sports, the situation highlights the challenges faced by expansion teams and the importance of player health in the WNBA. The Fire's inaugural season will undoubtedly be impacted by these setbacks, but the team still has the potential to be competitive.

Keywords: Sabrina Ionescu, Satou Sabally, New York Liberty, Portland, Oregon, Fire, WNBA, injury, basketball, Rebecca Allen, expansion team, season opener

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