New York Liberty

The New York Liberty have offered their support for Layshia Clarendon after the veteran guard announced on Friday they had top surgery.

Clarendon tweeted about the procedure:

The Liberty said in a statement they were "in full support of Layshia Clarendon and their choice to live authentically":

The WNBPA also showed their support for the 29-year-old in a statement, saying Clarendon's story is one "that will empower, and reminds us that we will not be restrained by the many assumptions and stereotypes that seek to define us as girls and women."

In an August 2015 article for The Players' Tribune, Clarendon wrote they identified as "black, gay, female, non-cisgender and Christian."

Last month, Clarendon came out publicly as transgender in a post on Instagram: 

"There is indeed no one way to be Trans. Over 5 years ago I wrote in a [The Players' Tribune] article that I identified as non-cis gender. ⁣

"When I wrote those words I knew my gender did not align with the sex I was assigned at birth, but I didn't know exactly where I fit or how to describe the feelings I was having. I just knew what I was not...cis lol. And I knew I wasn't a trans guy. The images of Trans folx I saw and the mainstream narrative we still largely see (but is changing!) exists in the binary of male or female.⁣"

Clarendon is entering their second season with the Liberty. The California alum began their WNBA career with the Indiana Fever in 2013 and has also played for the Atlanta Dream (2016-18) and Connecticut Sun (2018-19).

They were named to the WNBA All-Star team in 2017 and won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2018 FIBA World Cup.

New York Liberty guard Asia Durr is unsure if she will ever be able to play professional basketball again as she continues to suffer from symptoms and side effects nearly eight months after her COVID-19 diagnosis in June. 

In an interview with Mary Carillo for Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, Durr discussed testing positive for COVID-19 and how it has impacted her since:

Carillo asked if she has considered the possibility that her WNBA career could be over, and Durr responded: "That question has definitely crossed my mind plenty of times, and then that's when I, you know, give it to God."

Durr said that since testing positive for COVID-19, she has experienced vomiting and severe lung pain that feels like getting stabbed in the lungs with a "long knife." Durr said she has even spat up blood at times and described her bad days as feeling like she "got hit by a bus."

The 23-year-old was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 WNBA draft after a highly productive collegiate career at Louisville.

Durr was the two-time ACC Player of the Year in 2018 and 2019, and she won the Dawn Staley Award in 2019, which is given annually to the best guard in Division I women's basketball.

The Douglasville, Georgia, native was fairly effective during her rookie season with the Liberty in 2019, averaging 9.7 points, 1.7 assists and 1.6 rebounds per game, while shooting 46.7 percent from the field.

Durr was expected to be a big part of New York's lineup in 2020, but she sat out the entire season because of her COVID-19 diagnosis. She also sat out the European season despite having a contract to play in France.

In the interview with Carillo, Durr said she still hasn't been cleared by doctors to do anything physical out of concern that she could develop "flare-ups."

The 2021 WNBA season is likely to begin some time in the spring of 2021, but it remains unclear if Durr will be cleared to return to action by then.

For the second consecutive year, the New York Liberty have been awarded the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft.

The Dallas Wings will select second followed by the Atlanta Dream and Indiana Fever. The Liberty landed Oregon star Sabrina Ionescu with the top pick last year, but the guard played just three games after suffering a Grade 3 ankle sprain. 

New York finished with a combined record of 12-44 across 2019 and 2020, giving it the best odds to win the draft lottery at 44.2 percent. 

The Liberty will now get an opportunity to draft from the likes of top players such as Tennessee's Rennia Davis, Kentucky's Rhyne Howard, Arizona's Aari McDonald and Texas' Charli Collier.

2021 WNBA Draft Order

1. New York Liberty
2. Dallas Wings
3. Atlanta Dream
4. Indiana Fever
5. Dallas Wings (via Washington Mystics)
6. Phoenix Mercury (via Connecticut Sun)
7. Dallas Wings (via Chicago Sky)
8. Chicago Sky (via Phoenix Mercury)
9. Minnesota Lynx
10. Los Angeles Sparks
11. Seattle Storm
12. Las Vegas Aces

Dallas, Indiana and Atlanta all picked in the top four last year as well.

The Wings took Satou Sabally No. 2, Lauren Cox went to the Fever at No. 3 and Chennedy Carter joined the Dream at No. 4. The 2021 edition marks the fourth straight year Indiana will select in the top four, but it has yet to pick first overall. 

The Fever had a 10.4 percent chance of landing the top pick this year, while Atlanta had the second-best odds at 27.6 percent.     

The New York Liberty announced star guard Sabrina Ionescu underwent minor ankle surgery.  

Dr. Martin O'Malley detailed the purpose of the procedure:

"She had a minor ankle procedure to remove a loose bone chip that was irritating a tendon behind her ankle. This chip that occurred during her sprain in July, did not involve the ankle joint cartilage surface and we expect a complete recovery. The ligaments she tore during her injury have all completely healed and there was no need for an ankle ligament stabilization procedure."

Ionescu added that her focus is on preparing for the 2021 WNBA season, though it remains unclear whether the 2020 No. 1 overall draft pick is contemplating a move overseas. She told reporters in October she was weighing the idea as a way to get some competitive games in before WNBA play resumes.

Ionescu made the jump to the pros with almost impossible expectations thanks to her historic career at Oregon.

In only her second game, the 22-year-old finished with 33 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.

However, Ionescu suffered a Grade 3 left ankle sprain in an 84-78 loss to the Atlanta Dream on July 31 that ultimately ended her rookie season. The Liberty wound up winning just two games and finishing last in the league.

New York had already committed to a long-term rebuild anyway, hiring a new head coach (Walt Hopkins) and rolling out a rebrand to coincide with what was supposed to be the franchise's first year at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Fans were obviously disappointed to see so little of Ionescu, but she could come back with a vengeance in 2021.

In an interview with the New York Times' Marc Stein, New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu addressed her season-ending ankle injury and the continued impact of Kobe Bryant's death.

In her second game as a pro, Ionescu finished with 33 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. As it looked like she was about to exceed the lofty expectations thrust upon her, the former Oregon star exited a July 31 game against the Atlanta Dream.

While Ionescu avoided surgery, the rebuilding Liberty, who won a WNBA-low two games, had little reason to rush her back to the court.

"It happens. It really wasn't the end of the world," Ionescu said of the injury. "It wasn't like my senior year of college or anything. I'll have many, many more opportunities to play in the league, so it really wasn't like a devastating experience. I kind of just took it for what it was and moved on."

The 2020 No. 1 overall pick also explained to Stein she has no firm timetable on when she'll resume full five-on-five action:

"I'm able to do just about everything that I want. I'm not playing live now and probably won't be for a while, just because there’s no point playing live. It's not necessarily for my health or my ankle, but just due to COVID-19 and everything going on. I don't really feel like I want to go to a gym and start playing with random people at this point."

A number of stars play overseas upon the conclusion of the WNBA season because they can earn more money compared to their WNBA contracts. Ionescu said to Stein she isn't feeling any pressure to hurry her rehab along, citing the long layoff until the 2021 campaign.

Her prolific college career helped her build a national profile before she ever arrived in the WNBA, with Bryant, who died in January, among the many admirers of her game. The 22-year-old spoke at the memorial service for Kobe and Gianna Bryant at Staples Center in February. Hours later, she became the first player in Division I history with 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 1,000 assists.

"It was difficult, but it was also an honor," Ionescu said of being asked to appear. "Obviously being around such great people that were in attendance, some great teammates, all of his mentors, really everyone that was there — it was something that I am so happy that I was able to do and was asked to do."

She told Stein she'll "always be close to his family, and I think they know that they'll always be close to me."

The New York Liberty announced Saturday that superstar rookie Sabrina Ionescu will not require surgery on the ankle injury she suffered in New York's third game of the 2020 season July 31.

The Liberty noted that Ionescu received a positive prognosis for a full recovery from physicians and will continue to rehab.

ESPN's Holly Rowe tweeted that physicians determined Ionescu suffered a Grade 3 ankle sprain. Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported at the time that Ionescu was expected to miss approximately one month.

New York selected Ionescu with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 WNBA draft after her dominant collegiate career at Oregon. Ionescu averaged 18.0 points, 7.7 assists and 7.3 rebounds per game in four seasons at Oregon and was named the Citizen Naismith Player of the Year in 2020.

There was a great deal of excitement surrounding the Liberty after they selected Ionescu. In her first three games, Ionescu showed why she deserved to be the top pick as she averaged 18.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists. That included 33 points, seven boards and seven assists against the Dallas Wings in her second game.

The 2020 WNBA season is occurring inside a bubble at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Ionescu was one of many reason there was plenty of hype surrounding the unique WNBA season when it started, but her injury has left the league without one of its biggest stars.

The young Liberty team are also a WNBA-worst 1-9 this season, meaning they could in line for the No. 1 overall pick again next year.

If Charania's timeline ends up being correct, Ionescu could still return this season to play a handful of games, but it won't be surprising if the Liberty take a cautious approach since she is by far the biggest key to their future success.

New York Liberty star rookie Sabrina Ionescu hasn't wasted time using her platform to inspire girls. 

One young fan sent Ionescu a letter asking her if girls could play basketball, and not only did Ionescu tell her in a handwritten letter she could do anything, she also sent her some Nike swag: 

That's the sort of wholesome thing we all need a little more of in our lives right now, and it's a reminder of the positive influence that stars like Ionescu and her WNBA counterparts can have on young girls. 

The Liberty rookie is currently dealing with a sprained left ankle but has looked good when she's been on the court, averaging 18.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and four assists in three games. 

The New York Liberty announced star rookie Sabrina Ionescu will visit an ankle and foot specialist after suffering what was believed to be a Grade 3 left ankle sprain in New York's 84-78 loss to the Atlanta Dream last Friday.

Ionescu has lived up to the hype through her first three appearances, averaging 18.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists.

Ionescu's drawing power was evident right out of the gate when the WNBA rolled out its updated national television schedule. Coming off a 10-win season, the Liberty were given 18 national TV games, including the first of the new season.

New York's 87-71 defeat to the Seattle Storm drew an average of 419,000 viewers, the highest-rated WNBA opener on ESPN since 2016.

Ionescu was a bit shaky in her debut, shooting 4-of-17 from the field. She returned in her next game to drop 33 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in a 93-80 loss to the Dallas Wings.

Ionescu's contributions on the court have done little to turn the Liberty's fortunes around. That's less an indictment of the 2020 Naismith Player of the Year and more an acknowledgment of how little a rookie can single-handedly improve her team in the WNBA.

Talent is concentrated far more in the WNBA compared to the NBA because it only has 12 teams with 12 available roster spots. The fact the season is only traditionally 34 games—shortened to 22 for 2020—with eight playoff spots up for grabs also adds a little more importance to each regular-season contest.

New York basically tore its roster down to the studs. Ionescu is one of seven first-year players on the 12-woman squad. 

With the former Oregon star healthy, the postseason would be a long shot. Take her out of the mix and those chances dwindle even further.

New York Liberty superstar rookie Sabrina Ionescu is expected to miss approximately one month after suffering a Grade 3 left ankle sprain, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.

Charania reported Friday that X-rays on Ionescu's ankle came back negative after she left the Liberty's 84-78 loss to the Atlanta Dream.

Ionescu, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 WNBA draft, registered 10 points in just 12 minutes of play before exiting the game in the second quarter.

In three games this season, Ionescu is averaging 18.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists. That included 33 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in New York's 93-80 loss to the Dallas Wings.

While Ionescu's arrival ratcheted up the level of excitement surrounding the Liberty to an all-time high, the young team is off to an 0-3 start.

All WNBA teams are playing a truncated 2020 season with 22 regular-season games each. As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, all games are being played at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, with no fans in attendance.

After Ionescu rolled her ankle and left Friday's game, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James tweeted his hopes for a speedy recovery:

Ionescu's absence is not only bad for the WNBA since she is already such a popular player, but it could also dash the Liberty's hopes of reaching the playoffs since the one-month timeline suggests she may not return until New York's sixth-to-last game of the season against the Connecticut Sun on Sept. 1.

It is also possible that the Liberty could opt to hold Ionescu out for the remainder of the season in an effort to exercise an abundance of caution, especially if they aren't in the playoff race when she is healthy enough to return.

The Liberty are already well off the pace as one of only two 0-3 teams in the WNBA this season, and making up ground without Ionescu for a month may not be possible.

New York Liberty rookie guard Sabrina Ionescu discussed her opening two professional games, hearing from current and former NBA stars following her debut and facing off against ex-Ducks teammate Satou Sabally in a matchup with the Dallas Wings in her latest diary entry for the Associated Press.

The ex-Oregon point guard shot just 4-of-17 and missed all eight of her three-pointers in an 87-71 defeat to the Seattle Storm to open her pro career, but facing off against a team with superstars such as Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart is a tall task for any rookie, even one as decorated as Ionescu.

The consensus NCAA player of the year discussed the messages she received from NBA players afterward:

"I got back to my hotel room and I had so many texts and messages from people congratulating me on my first game. There really is such a cool relationship between the NBA and WNBA as they definitely support us. Just seeing so many of them in the orange WNBA hooded sweatshirt over the weekend was awesome.

"It meant a lot to me to hear from so many of the NBA guys, including LeBron James, Damian Lillard, Ja Morant and Steve Nash. They told me that I looked poised and that I was going to have a great career."

Ionescu also said that she spoke with Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry over FaceTime to discuss her performance.

Whatever she learned from that FaceTime chat apparently worked as she dominated the Wings in her second game with 33 points, seven assists and seven rebounds. The Libs lost 93-80, but Ionescu caught fire en route to shooting 11-of-20 (6-of-10 from three-point range).

"I knew if I was open to shoot it," Ionescu wrote. "That’s what I did in the second game and I was able to hit a few. Once the first couple went in, my confidence grew."

Ionescu faced off against Sabally in a faceoff of the top two 2020 WNBA draft picks, and the Libs guard discussed that experience:

"It was also nice seeing Satou out there for Dallas, although it was a little weird seeing her in a different jersey. I had to get used to not passing to her. I’m always going to be rooting for her.

"Although, I did tell her on the free throw line ‘don’t miss’ with a smile. She looked back at me and winked after she made it. We went through so much at Oregon, we’ll always be on the same team forever."

Sabally finished with 12 points.

Ionescu scored 10 points in 12 minutes in her third game against the Atlanta Dream on Saturday, but she suffered a sprained left ankle and was forced to exit in the second quarter.

Hopefully, she's able to return to the court shortly and build off the momentum from her last couple games as she and the rest of the Libs look for their first win.