Liberty coach expresses confidence in Sabrina Ionescu despite playoff challenges

MINNEAPOLIS — Sabrina Ionescu made a three-pointer and smiled at the Target Center crowd late in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game. Ionescu's confidence in her shooting ability remains evident, even after a challenging game. She exited the game for the final time with 20 seconds remaining, finishing with 13 points on 14 shots, zero rebounds, and six assists. The Liberty won the game by 16 points, largely due to Breanna Stewart's strong performance. Coach Chris DeMarco emphasized the importance of Ionescu to the team's success, stating he is not worried about her despite her struggles in the playoffs. Ionescu has faced difficulties this season, including injuries that affected her performance. She missed the start of the season due to a foot injury and later dealt with a back issue. This season, she averaged 14.6 points, her lowest since 2021, and shot 29.5 percent from three-point range. In the last four regular-season games, her shooting percentage dropped to 28.6 percent from the field. DeMarco acknowledged Ionescu's contributions and her ability to perform under pressure, stating, "We’re not in this position without her. She’s won us some massive games, some late-game comebacks... we’re gonna be as good as she is, and we know she’s up for the challenge."