Three's (Championship) Company: Liberty Officially Re-Ups With Core

Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones, and Breanna Stewart are officially set to return to the New York Liberty both now and later.

It’s a city so nice, they re-upped thrice.

(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

The New York Liberty officially announced the retaining of its headlining trio on Friday, having re-signed Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones, and Breanna Stewart to multi-year deals. All three played major roles in the Liberty’s first postseason championship run in 2024 and are set to rep the city for the foreseeable future.

The announcement came just about two hours after two-time All-Star Satou Sabally, a collegiate teammate of Ionescu’s, was introduced as the latest bearer of seafoam at Brooklyn Basketball Training Center.

“Re‑signing Breanna, Jonquel, and Sabrina reflects the trust, sacrifice, and shared purpose that define what it means to represent the Liberty, this city, and our fanbase,” Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb said in a statement. “These three cornerstone players chose to invest in each other and in the long‑term legacy of this organization, a rare commitment that has the chance to redefine the standard of excellence across basketball.”

(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Duck? Yeah

The news ironically comes on the six-year anniversary of the 2020 WNBA Draft, which saw the Liberty welcome in Ionescu as the top pick out of Oregon. Ionescu has already becomes the Liberty’s all-time leader in successful 3-pointers, none more famous than the buzzer-beater that defeated the Minnesota Lynx in the penultimate win of the 2024 Finals run. She has averaged 16.7 points, 5.9 assists, and 5.5 rebounds over her first six tours.

All that and more has turned New York into “home” for the Walnut Creek, Calif. native.

““We’ve built something special here,” Ionescu said in the statement. “I’m locked in on bringing another championship to the city and our fans.”

The point guard previously offered a verbal commitment to the seafoam cause while working out at the United States’ Women’s National Basketball team’s recent training camp in Phoenix. Set to enter her seventh season, Ionescu is the Liberty’s longest-tenured active participant.

“Sabrina Ionescu is the only No. 1 pick in our franchise’s history, and she has had a storybook journey in New York; a place that embraces its homegrown talent like no other,” Kolb said. “Sab has earned everything she has through relentless work, a commitment to continually add to her game each year, and a mindset that is never satisfied.”

“She has embraced this city as her own, helped establish the Liberty as a destination franchise, delivered a championship, and continues to push for more every day. We’re proud of the legacy she is building and look forward to the impact she will continue to have on this franchise in the years ahead.”

The NY Liberty’s Big 3 are officially BACK.

Jonquel Jones, Sabrina Ionescu, & Breanna Stewart have re-signed with the Liberty and will return to Brooklyn for the 2026 WNBA season! pic.twitter.com/jE7sHgpQaY

— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) April 17, 2026

Along Came Stewie (and JJ)

The Ionescu-led endeavor received a historic jolt during the winter of 2023, which saw a long-gestating plan culminate with the additions of Jones, Stewart, and Courtney Vandersloot. While Vandersloot returned to Chicago after the magic of 2024, Jones and Stewart are sticking around for a go at another banner.

Jones etched a lasting place in metropolitan championship lore with an MVP output in the Finals, averaging 17.6 points and 7.6 rebounds in the five-game victory. New York is an astonishingly perfect 34-0 in regular season games, where Jones posts a double-double and she was also the MVP of the Liberty’s in-season championship trek in 2023.

“When you trade for a player, you always hope they feel a real sense of belonging, and it has been incredibly meaningful to see New York become a home away from home for JJ,” Kolb said of Jones, a native of the Bahamas. “Her versatility, dominance on the glass, leadership in the locker room, and status as one of the toughest matchups in the league have been major drivers of our success. JJ’s presence elevates everyone around her and raises our collective ceiling, and we are excited to continue building with her as we pursue more championships.”

Jones’ return was first reported by Madeline Kenney of the New York Post. She has averaged 13 points and 8.5 rebounds during her metropolitan services, which followed six busy years with the Connecticut Sun.

“It was always about staying here in New York, because this is home,” Jones said, echoing Ionescu’s thoughts of an adopted domicile. “This is my foundation, and this is where I want to be.”

Rounding out the returnees is Stewart, an Empire State native who expressed an immediate desire to return after last season ended.

““I am staying in New York, my family is set up and solid here,” Stewart stated. “I’m committed to the Liberty, and I’m excited to continue to invest in my teammates, in the community, and in a franchise that has already given me so much. I promise to keep fighting to bring more championships to the greatest city in the world.”

Referred to as the “personification of winning” by Kolb, Stewart won her second MVP and third championship ring with New York, while also reaching three consecutive All-Defensive teams. Stewart has put up 20.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks during her time in seafoam.

“From the moment she arrived in New York, she redefined what winning looks like and relentlessly raised the bar across our organization,” Kolb lauded. “Stewie pushes everyone around her to be better, holds herself to the highest standard, and prioritizes winning the right way above all else. She is the embodiment of a superstar who puts the team first every day.”

“Stewie continuing to play in New York, her home, is one of the most special storylines in WNBA history, and she is central to the legacy and championship standard we continue to define in this city.”

Three, Plus Bee, Fie, and More

New York thus continues to restock as it continues to seek atonement for a disappointing championship defense: the Liberty won each of its first nine games but failed to retain that spark over the rest of the season and would eventually place fifth on the WNBA leaderboard. New York dropped a three-game set to the Phoenix Mercury in the opening round of the postseason, which led to the dismissal of head coach Sandy Brondello (who has since latched on with the expansion Toronto Tempo).

The Liberty has spent the free agency fastbreak continuing to adhere to its desires to build a championship contender both now and later: another All-Star starter, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, also earned a new payday, re-upping with Brooklyn on a one-year deal. New York continues to carry international sensation Leonie Fiebich on a rookie contract while two-way fan favorite Rebecca Allen is also reportedly on her way back. The whole operation is set to be overseen by new head coach Chris DeMarco, who served as a staple of the Golden State Warriors’ championship affairs for over a decade.

“We have championship pedigree,” DeMarco lauded after Sabally was introduced on Friday. “Some of those challenges of getting over the hump are for teams that haven’t had players that have felt it before. We’re very much going to lean into our championship pedigree.”

New York tips off another chapter on May 8 at home against the Connecticut Sun.

Geoff Magliocchetti is on X @GeoffJMags