New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu is returning to action later than planned after multiple injury setbacks early in the 2026 WNBA season. Several reports say she missed the start of the campaign because of a left foot or ankle-related injury suffered during the team’s preseason, and that she subsequently continued to work through soreness issues. One outlet reports she is out during the Liberty’s early road trip, including missing a game in Connecticut, as she deals with a back issue or back soreness that flares up after practice. Other coverage describes Ionescu’s delayed debut as the team manages her return from injury, including her being ruled out shortly before tipoff against Portland on a back-to-back. Additional reports state she is preparing for her season debut against the Dallas Wings on Sunday after practice, marking a return after missing multiple games. Overall, the sources agree that the Liberty are gradually easing Ionescu back into the lineup, with game-to-game status updates driven by injury recovery and soreness.