UNCASVILLE, Conn. — Sunday was the New York Liberty’s last practice run in first-year coach Chris DeMarco’s new system.

Against the Indiana Fever on April 25, they looked out of sorts, fumbling their way through for 40 minutes with just one offensive set ready to deploy. But Sunday, DeMarco’s “family style” offense began to take shape in the Liberty’s 79-67 win over the Connecticut Sun. Jonquel Jones led the Liberty with 15 points and five rebounds, while Marine Johannes and Pauline Astier added 12 apiece. Sun center Brittney Griner led all scorers with 16 points.  

DeMarco opted to leave his starters, minus Breanna Stewart, on the court to open the second half, a decision he said pregame would be determined by how the first half went. But less than three minutes into the third quarter, Sabrina Ionescu was on the ground, having rolled her left ankle on a reverse layup. Within moments, she walked back to the locker room on her own accord.

Ionescu did not return to the game and finished with 6 points and two assists in 16 minutes.

“She just rolled her ankle,” DeMarco said postgame. “She’s getting an MRI tomorrow.”

Ionescu had surgery on her left ankle in 2020 to remove scar tissue that was causing irritation. When asked if there was any concern that Ionescu’s injury was to the same ankle, DeMarco said the outlook is “positive now.” She left Mohegan Sun Arena wearing a boot on her left foot but was not using crutches.

The Liberty were ravaged by injuries during the 2025 campaign, playing just four regular-season games at full health. Jones (ankle) and Stewart (knee) both missed 13 regular-season games. Ionescu (neck, toe) missed six. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton missed the entire 2025 campaign recovering from surgery to repair a meniscus injury in her left knee. Former Liberty forward Nyara Sabally was limited to just 17 games as she dealt with a nagging knee injury. 

Former Liberty coach Sandy Brondello utilized a total of 18 different starting lineups over the season.

“Obviously it wasn’t good to see,” Jones said of Ionescu’s injury. “I was able to chat with our (performance staff) during the game just to know she was okay. But like Chris (DeMarco) said, our fingers are crossed, obviously, and we’ll just handle it as we get more information.”

The Liberty open the 2026 season against the Sun on Friday at Barclays Center. Ionescu’s status for New York’s season opener is currently in question.

“Sab is a tough cookie,” Stewart, who had 4 points and six rebounds Sunday night, said. “She’s gonna get it checked out, but she seems in good spirits.”