New York Liberty

New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu was carried off the court after suffering a left ankle injury against the Atlanta Dream on Friday, per Myron Medcalf of ESPN.

The Liberty announced that Ionescu's ankle is sprained. Per Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic, an X-Ray came back negative and did not show a fracture.

With 5:15 remaining in the second quarter and the score tied at 27, the Liberty got out on the break after forward Joyner Holmes grabbed a rebound and passed to Ionescu, who dribbled near midcourt and attempted to ward off the defense of Dream guard Betnijah Laney.

Ionescu then appeared to roll her left ankle and fell to the ground.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 WNBA draft had scored 10 points in 12 minutes prior to her exit. She was replaced in the lineup by guard Jazmine Jones.

Ionescu was coming off a 33-point, seven-rebound, seven-assist performance against the Dallas Wings in just her second professional game.

The Libs started the year 0-2 but looked dominant against the Dream after falling behind 11-0 and then 16-3 in the first quarter.

However, Kylee Shook and Ionescu led the Liberty on the comeback charge, scoring a combined 15 points in a 24-9 run.

Megan Walker entered the lineup in place of Ionescu to start the third quarter. The ex-UConn star was the ninth overall pick in the 2020 WNBA draft.

New York is scheduled to face the Phoenix Mercury next on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET before taking on the Minnesota Lynx on Wednesday and the defending WNBA champion Washington Mystics on Friday. The Liberty have five games between Sunday and August 13.

The WNBA schedule is shorter and more condensed this season with the league forced to alter plans because of the COVID-19 pandemic, so Ionescu could be missing a larger chunk of the season that she would have in a normal year. The team hopes she returns to the court shortly as the young Libs, with seven rookies, continue their development and build chemistry with an eye toward the future.

Ionescu, the first NCAA player to register career marks of at least 2,000 points, 1,000 assists and 1,000 rebounds, won the Naismith and Associated Press Player of the Year awards with the University of Oregon in 2020.

The New York Liberty suffered their second straight loss to start the season, but Sabrina Ionescu showcased her talent in the 93-80 loss to the Dallas Wings.

The 2020 No. 1 draft pick shined with a game-high 33 points to go with seven rebounds and seven assists on 11-of-20 shooting.

.@sabrina_i20 caught 🔥 from 3 shooting 4-7! pic.twitter.com/AxzAHXFxfl

— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) July 30, 2020

She finished 6-of-10 from three-point range after going 0-of-8 from deep in her debut Saturday.

This production would have been notable even if it weren't just the second game of her professional career:

After scoring just 12 points in her WNBA debut Saturday vs Seattle, New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu had 33 pts, 7 rebs & 7 ast in a loss to Dallas tonight.

Ionescu is the 1st Liberty player with 30 pts, 5 rebs & 5 ast in a game over the last 5 seasons. pic.twitter.com/oFQuUQqq1G

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 30, 2020

Big night for Sabrina Ionescu (33 pts, 7 assists, 7 rebounds). The rookie ended up two points short of this impressive list: pic.twitter.com/ZJOkQzPrNP

— Chantel Jennings (@ChantelJennings) July 30, 2020

Ionescu is one of the most hyped rookies in WNBA history after an incredible collegiate career at Oregon. She was the first player in NCAA history with over 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 1,000 assists, totaling an NCAA-record 26 triple-doubles in the process.

She won the Wooden Award as the national player of the year in each of her last two seasons.

It brought a lot of expectations at the next level, although the first game wasn't quite as memorable. Ionescu had just 12 points on 4-of-17 shooting in an 87-71 loss to the Seattle Storm.

"I think there's a lot of expectation on me coming in and just producing the numbers I did in college," she said after the game, per Mechelle Voepel of ESPN. "But I definitely think there's going to be a lot of down and a lot of adversity I have to face in order to get there."

It took just one game to turn things around and show what she can do.

The Liberty now have to provide more support to finally get into the win column. New York plays its next game Friday against the Atlanta Dream.

New York Liberty point guard Sabrina Ionescu, who spoke at Kobe and Gianna Bryant's Celebration of Life in February, reflected on that experience with Turner Sports' Ernie Johnson on Tuesday:

“I hopefully was just able to inspire everyone to have that same feeling I did with him.”@sabrina_i20 reflects on speaking at Kobe’s memorial service on #NBATogether with @TurnerSportsEJ pic.twitter.com/WVkrXmfFDs

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 14, 2020

Ionescu, a former University of Oregon star, developed a friendship with the Los Angeles Lakers legend, who died in a helicopter crash with his daughter and seven others on January 26.

After she was drafted No. 1 overall to the Libs in the 2020 WNBA draft, Ionescu posted the following tribute to Bryant on Instagram:

Sabrina reflects on her friendship with Kobe after going #1 💜💛

(📸 via @sabrina_i20 / IG) pic.twitter.com/UY2poiuvG3

— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) April 18, 2020

As Emily Carson of Sporting News noted, Bryant and Ionescu met in January 2019 after the Ducks beat the USC Trojans 95-53.

Later that summer, Ionescu helped coach Bryant's AAU team, the Mamba Ballers. And during the 2019-20 season, Ionescu and Bryant kept in touch as the Oregon point guard nearly averaged a triple-double for the year en route to winning the Naismith Player of the Year and AP Player of the Year awards for the Pac-12-winning Ducks.

Ionescu was among a host of luminaries to speak at the Celebration of Life, including NBA legends Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Shaquille O'Neal and Bryant's wife, Vanessa.

The New York Liberty picked Oregon point guard Sabrina Ionescu with the first pick of the 2020 WNBA draft at around 7:15 p.m. ET on Friday. 

Her jersey reportedly sold out before 8 p.m.:

https://twitter.com/ktrain_11/status/1251301053452161025

Fans who didn't act within the first 45 minutes of Ionescu being drafted will now have to wait for the next set of jerseys to drop.

Substitute options to rep Ionescu in the meantime include buying a custom jersey with her name and number, per Tim Brown of the Oregonian, or perhaps purchasing an Oregon shirt with her jersey number.

Ionescu is one of the more popular collegiate basketball stars in recent history, so the sellout isn't a major surprise, even if it occurred in such a short time.

The excitement surrounding the Ionescu's jersey was clearly evident on Twitter:

Where can I buy a Sabrina Ionescu NY Liberty jersey? Who has the link?

— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) April 17, 2020

https://twitter.com/itsmeglinehan/status/1251291799798284288

But it's fair to question the limited stock for a budding superstar, as Lindsay Gibbs of the Burn It All Down podcast noted:

Color me not pumped that Ionescu Liberty jerseys are already sold out. IMO it's another case of completely underestimating women's sports on the supply side. How are you not prepared to sell as many of those as humanly possible tonight?!?!

— Lindsay Gibbs (@linzsports) April 18, 2020

Ionescu headlines a star rookie class for the Liberty.

New York had five picks in the first two rounds, and the group was rounded out by UConn forward Megan Walker (No. 9 pick), Louisville guard Jazmine Jones (No. 12), Louisville forward Kylee Shook (No. 13) and Duke forward Leaonna Odom (No. 15).

The basketball world's worst-kept secret was finally revealed Friday after the New York Liberty chose Oregon point guard Sabrina Ionescu with the first overall pick in the 2020 WNBA draft.

There was no denying the Libs would take the ex-Duck, who left the collegiate game as a three-time All-American, a two-time John Wooden Award winner and a recipient of the Naismith and Associated Press Player of the Year honors.

She also took home three Pac-12 Player of the Year awards and finished her career as the NCAA's all-time leader in triple-doubles.

Here's a look at how Twitter reacted to the Liberty's pick:

Sabrina Ionescu goes No. 1 overall in the #WNBADraft to the New York Liberty.

Ionescu had 26 triple-doubles in her career at Oregon, over twice as many as any other D-I player.

She is the only player in NCAA history to finish with 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 1,000 assists. pic.twitter.com/EzLIuvXNwu

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 17, 2020

The walking triple-double, Sabrina, is heading to New York 🗽

With the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft, the Liberty have selected Sabrina Ionescu pic.twitter.com/Z5i2ctV34T

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 17, 2020

Congrats to @sabrina_i20, the 5th player from Pac-12 to go No. 1 in @WNBA draft, following Southern Cal’s Tina Thompson (1997, Houston), Stanford’s Ogwumike sisters Nneka (2012, Los Angeles) & Chiney (2014, Connecticut) and Washington’s Kelsey Plum (2017, San Antonio/Las Vegas).

— Michael Voepel (@MAVoepel) April 17, 2020

Sabrina Ionescu should sign a two-way contract with the Liberty and Nets.

— Frank Isola (@TheFrankIsola) April 17, 2020

I debated whether or not I was going to give grades to the players taken, because we know how much team social media accounts love to dunk on grades.

But I will give one grade: Ionescu pick gets an A. #WNBADraft

— Justin Carter (@juscarts) April 17, 2020

You don’t have to wait to hear from NY Liberty HC Walt Hopkins on drafting Sabrina, we gotchu on @AroundTheRimPod! pic.twitter.com/wcZSW1YzfJ

— LaChina Robinson (@LaChinaRobinson) April 17, 2020

Congratulations to @sabrina_i20, who is heading to @nyliberty as the #1 draft pick in the 2020 #WNBAdraft! #champion https://t.co/omp5StNFuN

— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) April 17, 2020

The California native posted 17.5 points, 9.1 assists, 8.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game for the 31-2 Ducks, who won the Pac-12 title before the remainder of their season was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. They finished second in the AP and coaches' polls and a lock to become a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.

Ionescu's greatest accomplishment in 2019-20 may have been her efficiency numbers while compiling those aforementioned statistics, knocking down 51.8 percent of her field goals and 92.1 percent of her free throws.

The advanced stats don't lie either:

Ionescu's rank in assist rate went from 13th to 8th to 2nd over the past 3 yrs with @OregonWBB , + she shot a remarkable 59% on 2-pointers this season & totaled 11.2 win shares. Congrats Sabrina! https://t.co/RKMaxnzVsM

— Her Hoop Stats (@herhoopstats) April 17, 2020

Oregon's Sabrina Ionescu was selected 1st overall by the NY Liberty in the #WNBADraft

🏀Created an NCAA-best 27.9 points per game with her passes
🏀Recorded 8 triple doubles while eclipsing 1K career rebounds & assists pic.twitter.com/4uZzY4GYSg

— Synergy Basketball (@SynergySST) April 17, 2020

Graham Hays of ESPN.com wrote the following about Ionescu on Wednesday:

"But Ionescu's style was always rooted in substance. Oregonians, NBA stars and basketball connoisseurs alike didn't gravitate toward her simply because she made flashy passes. It wasn't cool factor that transformed Oregon from postseason afterthought into championship contender. The numbers tell the story. The first player, man or woman, to accumulate 2,000 points, 1,000 assists and 1,000 rebounds in NCAA history, Ionescu was as complete a guard as college basketball has ever seen.

"And that's something to build around."

The 5'11" Ionescu is now tasked with running point for the Liberty, who have finished 11th in a 12-team league in each of the past two seasons. Last year's squad went just 10-24.

Their future is bright with Ionescu as its centerpiece, however. In addition, the Libs own five picks in the top 15 of the WNBA draft, so the opportunity is there for New York to build a foundation for a championship that has eluded them since the league's 1996 inception.

The New York Liberty selected Oregon star Sabrina Ionescu with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 WNBA draft Friday.

The walking triple-double, Sabrina, is heading to New York 🗽

With the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft, the Liberty have selected Sabrina Ionescu pic.twitter.com/Z5i2ctV34T

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 17, 2020

Ionescu was the presumptive top selection as soon as she announced her intention to return to the Ducks for her senior season. While unable to lift a national championship, the dynamic guard enjoyed one of the most productive college careers in recent memory.

Prior to 2016-17, Oregon had never advanced past the second round of the NCAA tournament. In each of Ionescu's first three years, the Ducks reached the Elite Eight, and they made their first-ever Final Four appearance in 2019.

Crediting Ionescu as the singular force behind that success would be unfair to her supporting cast, which included Satou Sabally, Ruthy Hebard and Maite Cazorla. However, she was the team's best and most important player, as evidenced by her individual numbers and accolades.

Ionescu is the NCAA's all-time leader in triple-doubles and became the first player in Division I history to post 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 1,000 assists. She's a two-time winner of the Wooden Award and Wade Trophy and was the Naismith Player of the Year in 2020.

Purely in terms of need, one could question the Liberty's decision to add Ionescu. Kia Nurse was an All-Star in 2019, and New York used the No. 2 pick on a guard (Asia Durr) last year. Sabally or Lauren Cox would have been good fits as well. 

But Ionescu is so good the Liberty had to select her.

Her arrival could be good for Durr as well after the former Louisville star struggled as a rookie. Durr averaged 9.7 points and 1.7 assists but shot 29.4 from beyond the arc. She should benefit from the scoring opportunities Ionescu will help create.

Beyond her value on the court, the 22-year-old can be the face of the franchise as it embarks on a new era. New York has a first-year head coach in Walt Hopkins, and it will be playing at Barclays Center on a full-time basis after spending 2018 and 2019 at Westchester County Center.

Ionescu will shoulder the burden of massive expectations—both from Liberty fans and WNBA followers writ large. She flourished under the spotlight at Oregon, so there's little reason to think that won't continue at the next level.

The New York Liberty are changing venues, moving to Brooklyn's Barclays Center starting in the 2020 season. 

"The New York Liberty are part of the foundation of the W and have many of the most accomplished players and passionate fans since the inaugural season," WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in the league's press release. "Barclays Center is the perfect venue to host New York's team and showcase world-class women's basketball. This move is key to driving the league to the next level."

The Barclays Center will be the Liberty's fourth venue since the league's inception in 1997. They played the past two seasons at the Westchester County Center and had Madison Square Garden and the Prudential Center serve as their home venue in the past as well.

The team will also be under new leadership in 2020, with Brooklyn Nets governor Joseph Tsai acquiring the Liberty in 2019. 

The Liberty are one of the WNBA's original franchises and also one of its most decorated, having reached the WNBA Finals in four of the league's first six seasons. While the Liberty have never won a title, they've reached the postseason 15 times and the Eastern Conference Finals on nine occasions. 

The team will be attempting to end a two-year playoff drought, however. The team announced Wednesday it would not be bringing back head coach Katie Smith, who had presided over that playoff drought.

"On behalf of the entire Liberty organization, we want to thank Katie for her time with our franchise," general manager Jonathan Kolb said in a team statement. "These decisions are never easy to make, but we felt it necessary to move our organization forward in a new direction. We wish her all the best."

The Liberty went just 17-51 under Smith.

The New York Liberty have parted ways with head coach Katie Smith, according to the Associated Press' Doug Feinberg. 

Feinberg reported the team won't renew her contract ahead of the 2020 WNBA season. The Liberty tied for the league's second-worst record (10-24) in 2019 and won the WNBA draft lottery.

The Liberty went 17-51 in Smith's two years, which is a far cry from the consistent success they enjoyed in Bill Laimbeer's final three years. By bottoming out, though, New York was able to add Asia Durr with the No. 2 overall pick in 2019, and the team will add another young star next spring.

Many expect the Liberty to select Oregon star Sabrina Ionescu with the No. 1 pick. Ionescu averaged 19.9 points, 8.2 assists and 7.4 rebounds as a junior and already set the NCAA record for triple-doubles with 18 and counting.

Add Ionescu to a squad that includes Durr and 2019 All-Star Kia Nurse, and New York would have a bright future ahead.

Tina Charles is a wild card because she was signed through 2019. With WNBA players opting out of the current collective bargaining agreement, it's unclear what that will mean for free agents this offseason.

Letting Smith go now is somewhat harsh. Although the Liberty were one of the WNBA's worst teams in 2018 and 2019, she can point to the development of Nurse as a success. Amanda Zahui B. started playing her best basketball under Smith as well.

The general drama regarding ownership—Joe Tsai brought that to an end in January when he purchased the team—and the Liberty's move from Madison Square Garden to Westchester County Center in White Plains, New York, didn't help either.

This is the second WNBA head-coaching job to come available after the Indiana Fever fired Pokey Chatman in September. Given both the size of their market and their promising roster, the Liberty should have plenty of options for Smith's successor.

The New York Liberty are on the clock after winning the 2020 WNBA draft lottery Tuesday.  

The Dallas Wings, Indiana Fever and Atlanta Dream round out the lottery slots. The Liberty had the best odds (44.2 percent) of landing the No. 1 overall pick as their two-year record of 17-51 was the lowest of the four squads.

LET’S GOOOOO!!!!!🗽 pic.twitter.com/rInD9Ov3ah

— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 17, 2019

         

2020 WNBA Draft Order—First Round

1. New York Liberty

2. Dallas Wings

3. Indiana Fever

4. Atlanta Dream

5. Phoenix Mercury

6. Minnesota Lynx

7. Seattle Storm

8. Chicago Sky

9. Dallas Wings

10. Connecticut Sun

11. Connecticut Sun

12. Washington Mystics

          

Sabrina Ionescu is widely considered one of the best players in the 2020 draft class. She almost certainly would've been the No. 1 pick in 2019 if she hadn't returned to Oregon for her senior season.

Ionescu averaged 19.9 points, 8.2 assists and 7.4 rebounds in 2018-19 as the Ducks reached their first-ever Final Four. She has already set the NCAA record for triple-doubles, notching 18 and counting.

Pairing Ionescu with Asia Durr, who averaged 9.7 points during her rookie year, would give the Liberty a dynamic scoring tandem for the future.

New York could also target Baylor forward Lauren Cox, especially if the team is prepared to move on from Tina Charles, who was designated as a core player. Cox averaged 12.7 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.5 blocks as a junior.

Beatrice Mompremier, Cox's one-time teammate, excelled in her first season at Miami. The Hurricanes forward averaged 16.7 points and 12.2 rebounds, making her an obvious target for New York, too.

The Liberty are still at least another year from challenging the WNBA's elite, so it would make sense to either trade Charles or let her leave as a free agent if they want to pivot to a younger frontcourt.

Ionescu landing in the Big Apple would be a big boost for the league as a whole. She has already built a national profile in Oregon, making her a natural fit in one of the country's biggest media markets.

Along with Rookie of the Year Napheesa Collier, Arike Ogunbowale, A'ja Wilson, Diamond DeShields and Breanna Stewart, Ionescu is the kind of marketable star who can represent the next generation for the WNBA.