The New York Liberty’s bid for another WNBA Finals run just crashed and burned, swept out of the playoffs by the Atlanta Dream last week. Now, as the team enters the offseason with an expensive roster and a first-year coach already on the hot seat, all eyes are on Sabrina Ionescu, whose injury-riddled season and continued shooting struggles have sparked a radical idea: a trade.
Ionescu’s Season Was Brutal, And The Numbers Don’t Lie
It’s been a tough year for Ionescu, no doubt about it. She admitted herself that “It was not an easy year for me,” battling a back injury all season. But the stats speak volumes: for the second season running, she shot under 30 percent from beyond the arc. That’s worse than the league average from three-point range, and it’s a huge problem. Even with her heating up a bit in the playoffs, she only managed a combined 22 points in Games 2 and 3 of that brutal semifinal sweep. Look, Ionescu was the top overall pick in 2020 out of Oregon for a reason, and she was huge for the Liberty’s 2024 championship. We know what she can do. But in five of her six full seasons, she’s shot 33 percent or worse from three-point territory. That kind of inconsistency is just killing them.
The Liberty’s Dilemma: Costly Roster, Aging Stars, And A Trade Idea That Could Shake The League
The Liberty’s situation is getting complicated fast. Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones are both turning 33 before the 2027 season even ends. And that Satou Sabally signing? It’s been a total bust with her concussions sidelining her. The team needs to get better defensively, and if they want a shot at signing top free agent Napheesa Collier, something has to give. That’s where the idea of trading Ionescu to the Portland Fire comes in. It sounds wild, right? But Portland has the most cap space in the WNBA this offseason and wants to make a Golden State Valkyries-esque rise in their second season. Landing a former Oregon star like Ionescu as their flagship player would inject instant star power they’d otherwise have to draft and develop. For the Liberty, that move would free up the funds to offer Collier a max contract, and it would give them the flexibility to reroute Sabally to a third team. It’s a calculated, high-stakes gamble.
Honestly, the chances of GM Jonathan Kolb actually dealing Ionescu seem low, especially since the Liberty have really locked themselves into this “Big Three” with Ionescu, Jones, and Stewart. But Kolb has a history of making bold moves. He fired the decorated head coach Sandy Brondello last year, and nobody really saw the Sabally signing coming before this season. The Liberty have fallen short in back-to-back seasons since their 2024 title. In a market the size of New York, that’s a massive problem, and it might just demand a truly bold solution.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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