Sabrina Ionescu did not return to the second season of Unrivaled, the league co-founded by New York Liberty teammate Breanna Stewart.
Some were concerned when a certain Duck didn’t fly south for the winter.
(Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
Unrivaled, the Miami-based three-on-three women’s basketball league co-founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, has offered an explanation for its lack of Sabrina Ionescu in its second season. A Thursday statement revealed that Ionescu, the WNBA’s renowned 3-point queen, who repped Phantom BC during last winter’s debut, “was ruled unable to participate in on-court activities during the 2026 Unrivaled season due to an injury sustained during the WNBA season.”
Despite her departure, Ionescu will remain involved in the league’s second season “through off-court initiatives and partnership opportunities.” That will include a limited broadcasting role with TNT Sports, the exclusive airer of Unrivaled events.
“While I’m disappointed I couldn’t play this season, I’ll be rooting for the Phantom,” the 2024 WNBA champion Ionescu said in the league statement. “I’m looking forward to working with Unrivaled through content and broadcast opportunities and continuing to support the league’s success.”
Though her original three-on-three showcase was interrupted by prior commitments, Ionescu joined the league co-founded by her Liberty teammate Stewart. She played with future fellow bearer of seafoam Natasha Cloud on last year’s Phantom group, which also featured Brittney Griner and Ionescu’s collegiate teammate Satou Sabally. Ionescu averaged 18.2 points (eighth among all Unrivaled participants) in nine appearances for Phantom last year, along with 7.0 rebounds and four assists.
RELATED: UNRIVALED OPENING NIGHT STANDOUTS | PHANTOM BC PREVIEW | NAPHEESA COLLIER INJURY UPDATE
From Walnut Creek to Brooklyn
The subsequent WNBA campaign was an accomplished yet trying effort for Ionescu, who missed six late-summer games due to foot and toe issues. She shot a career-low 29.9 percent from 3-point range but tied her full-season personal-best with 18.2 points. Ionescu also successfully defended her 3-Point Contest title at the WNBA All-Star festivities in Indianapolis, becoming just the second woman to win at least two, joining Allie Quigley.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST SHOTS IN LIBERTY FINALS HISTORY FROM SABRINA IONESCU
The Liberty takes Game 3! #WNBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/Whv0AMnNl9
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 17, 2024
Ionescu, set to enter her sixth full professional season, has kept busy in absentia by serving as a de facto ambassador between Brooklyn and the Bay Area. After their first postseason championship defense went for naught, New York brought in longtime Golden State Warriors assistant coach Chris DeMarco to lead the way.
Hailing from Walnut Creek, CA, and sharing a close friendship with Warriors franchise face Stephen Curry, Ionescu was seen at several Golden State games before DeMarco left the Chase Center bench for good after a Dec. 29 game against the Brooklyn Nets.
Sans Ionescu, Phantom dropped a 69—62 decision to Breeze BC in its season two opener on Monday. With Cloud back in tow, Phantom will look to even its mark on Saturday night against the Lunar Owls (7:30 p.m. ET, TruTV).
Geoff Magliocchetti is on X @GeoffJMags
The post Where’s Sabrina Ionescu? Unrivaled Explains Star’s Absence appeared first on Ballislife.com.
