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Sabrina Ionescu Expected To Miss Up To A Month With Ankle Sprain

By Justin Phillips

PALMETTO, FLORIDA - AUGUST 02: Sabrina Ionescu #20 of the New York Liberty reacts to a foul during the first half of a game against the Phoenix Mercury at Feld Entertainment Center on August 02, 2020 in Palmetto, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
PALMETTO, FLORIDA - AUGUST 02: Sabrina Ionescu #20 of the New York Liberty reacts to a foul during the first half of a game against the Phoenix Mercury at Feld Entertainment Center on August 02, 2020 in Palmetto, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
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Former Oregon Duck Sabrina Ionescu was starting to show up and show out in the WNBA, but an ankle injury has put that on hold, for now.

Following a game where Ionescu scored 33 points and had 7 points and 7 rebounds, Ionescu rolled her ankle against the Atlanta Dream when she stepped on the foot of Betnijah Laney as she was bringing the ball up the court. She was down on the floor for several minutes before being helped off.

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At that point in the game, she was making her presence felt and had 10 points, an assist, and a rebound with just over five minutes left in the second quarter. Without Ionescu in the lineup, the New York Liberty fell to 0-3 on the season.

The team will now have to navigate over the next month without their top draft pick and a player who certainly had the potential to be WNBA Rookie of the Year. While Ionescu had a rough start in her first game against Seattle, a team that was solid on defense and coming off a WNBA Championship last season, she came around in her second game in Dallas.

Against Seattle, she was not able to hit a three-pointer but came away with 33 points in a loss to Dallas and former teammate Satou Sabally. Ionescu will certainly be missed over the next month or so as she recovers from a Grade 3 Ankle Sprain, which is a full tear of the ankle ligament and usually takes a month to heal. She is not expected to require surgery, just rest.

In just three games her impact on the floor is clear. She can make shots, or get the ball to a teammate to take a shot, in some cases with ease. It will be interesting with such a young group of players to see where New York is in the standings in a month.

The team will look for their first win without Ionescu on Sunday at 1 pm vs Phoenix on ESPN.