The New York Liberty emerged victorious over the Minnesota Lynx in the 2024 WNBA Finals after a grueling five-game series. Despite facing challenges, New York managed to secure the win. Star player Sabrina Ionescu had several standout moments throughout the series, but her performance in Game 5 left fans astounded. Ionescu only scored five points and struggled with a 1-19 shooting record. However, it was later discovered that Ionescu had suffered a serious hand injury during Game 4, as reported by Alexa Philippou of ESPN.
According to Philippou’s ESPN article, Ionescu underwent surgery on Friday and is expected to resume “on-court activity” in approximately a month. It is evident that Ionescu’s injury significantly impacted her performance in Game 5.
Despite the setback, the 27-year-old had an impressive season in 2024. She earned her third consecutive All-Star team selection and averaged 18.2 points, 6.2 assists, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game. Ionescu also maintained shooting percentages of 39.4% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the three-point line.
Ionescu was a contender for the MVP title, finishing fifth in the WNBA MVP voting—the highest ranking she has achieved in the voting. While she is undeniably one of the league’s top players, her unexpected performance in Game 5, despite the team’s victory, surprised many. The injury serves as the likely explanation for her struggles.
Ionescu chose not to use her injury as an excuse, and her team, the Liberty, rallied to win Game 5 with a score of 67-62.
Liberty Aiming for Back-to-Back Championships in 2025
If the Liberty can secure the return of Breanna Stewart, they are poised for another successful postseason in 2025. The team boasts a talented roster surrounding Ionescu and Stewart.
Rivals like the Minnesota Lynx and Las Vegas Aces will pose challenges for the Liberty in the upcoming season. The landscape could shift with WNBA free agency and potential trades, elevating other teams to contender status. Nonetheless, the Liberty remains focused on claiming a second consecutive championship.
Securing back-to-back titles is rare, but the Aces achieved this milestone in 2022 and 2023, underscoring the potential for success. Winning consecutive championships is indeed attainable.
