The New York Liberty avenged a recent defeat to the Chicago Sky with an 85-66 victory on Saturday afternoon at Barclays Center. The win provides a positive note for the Liberty as they head into the FIBA World Cup break.
Han Xu came off the bench to score a season-high 19 points, spearheading the Liberty's offensive effort. Four other players also reached double-digit scoring. Rebekah Gardner contributed 11 points and four rebounds as a spark off the bench.
Despite the team's overall success, Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu had an uncharacteristic performance. She missed all 10 of her field-goal attempts, including seven shots inside the arc, and scored her two points from the free-throw line. Ionescu also recorded five rebounds and four assists.
This outing continues a recent shooting slump for Ionescu, who has made only 8 of 53 three-point attempts over her last eight games. Head coach Chris DeMarco expressed confidence in Ionescu, emphasizing her all-around impact beyond scoring. "There's more to basketball than just scoring," DeMarco said. "That's why she's been such a great player forever. It's her ability to pass the ball, her ability to rebound. There's more ways to impact the game. ... The shot will come, no doubt about it. She's a great shooter."
Ionescu has faced challenges throughout the season, including an ankle injury in the preseason that led to a left foot injury, followed by a period of back soreness. While she found a rhythm in late July and early August, her performance has recently declined. She also missed a game on August 15 against Connecticut due to a left foot injury.
Her current season averages reflect these struggles, with 15.6 points per game on 12.8 field goal attempts, her lowest marks since 2021. Her average of four rebounds per game is also a career low.
Ionescu was not selected for the upcoming United States roster for the FIBA World Cup. She plans to use the break to focus on her health and prepare for the WNBA playoffs.