The New York Liberty are hoping to get back two All-Stars — point guard Sabrina Ionescu and power forward Satou Sabally — on Thursday night when they host the Golden State Valkyries.
Ionescu missed New York’s first four games due to a left foot injury. However, she returned to practice on Monday.
“I can’t make that decision yet,” Ionescu said when asked if she expects to play. “I have to see how I improve and how I respond to what I did the day before.”
Sabally was New York’s biggest offseason acquisition as she led Phoenix in scoring last year (16.3). However, she has yet to make her Liberty debut due to a cyst. She also returned to practice on Monday and is considered day-to-day.
When these two players return, they will join a Liberty lineup that includes Breanna Stewart, who ranks seventh in the WNBA in scoring (23.0); and Pauline Astier, who is the top rookie scorer in the league (16.8).
Meanwhile, the Valkyries have a lot less star power. Instead, Golden State plays tough defense, shoots a ton of 3-pointers and gets the most out of players such as forward Gabby Williams, its top free-agent addition this season.
A two-time WNBA All-Defense selection, Williams is averaging 2.0 steals per game. On offense, she is on pace for career highs in points (14.7), rebounds (5.3) and 3-point percentage (40.0).
“We don’t rely on superstars,” Williams said. “We play together and fight for each other. The older I get (29), the more I appreciate a team that plays this way.”
Golden State and New York are both well-rested as neither team has played in at least one week.
But New York — considered among the favorites to win the league this year — will be opening a seven-game homestead while Golden State had to make the long journey across the country.
Then again, Golden State surprised most experts by making the playoffs as an expansion team last season.
One Golden State player to watch on Thursday is Kayla Thornton, a former Liberty standout. The forward is averaging 10.7 points and 5.7 rebounds this season. However, in her most recent game — a 69-63 home loss to Chicago — Thornton went scoreless in 30 minutes, missing all 11 of her shots. Thornton had scored 19 in her previous game and will seek redemption against New York.
–Field Level Media
