It has been a season of inconsistencies so far for the New York Liberty. A change in head coach and several players dipping in and out of the injury report have led to skepticism surrounding the franchise's championship credentials. To make matters worse, Sabrina Ionescu is yet to reignite her magical spark, and her lack of production is hindering the Liberty's ability to win games. Chris DeMarco must look towards reducing the star's role while she continues to find her form.
New York's vision for 2026 was obvious: championship or bust. The franchise created something of a superteam by adding Satou Sabally to an already stacked roster that includes Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, and Jonquel Jones. Even with an 11-6 record, the indifferent performances have turned up the pressure cooker on Chris DeMarco and how he is utilising the players at his disposal.
Coaching a litany of superstars can be both a blessing and a curse. New York's front office will expect its 'Fantastic Four' to be on the field of play when they are available. That could be a dangerous sentiment for DeMarco and the Liberty, as a player being available for selection does not mean they are fully healthy -- case in point: Sabrina Ionescu.
DeMarco must think about Ionescu's long-term future
When at her best, Ionescu can turn a game on its head with her individual brilliance. Additionally, the Oregon alum's ball-facilitation skills can make each player around her a more dangerous proposition for the opponents. However, in her current form, Ionescu has not showcased the attributes that helped New York lift the championship trophy.
Throughout the 2026 season, Ionescu has only featured in five games -- starting in four. The 28-year-old has averaged 7.4 points, three rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game, while shooting just 31.8% from the floor and 27.8% from deep.
As a high-volume shooter, Ionescu's field-goal percentage does not always make for pretty reading -- in fact, she is only averaging around 40% for her career -- but since returning from injury, her efficiency and offensive presence have been a worrying sight.
Not only are the shots not falling for Ionescu, but she is not getting to her spot consistently enough to improve this statistic. Currently, the Liberty guard is recording a career-low 8.8 shots per game. This is not due to a lack of effort from Ionescu; something is holding her back, and it is now affecting New York's ability to win games.
Allowing Ionescu to continue in this worrying rut is not only hurting the Liberty in the short term, but if DeMarco does not pull her from the starting lineup soon, she may decimate her confidence and become totally ineffective when the postseason finally arrives.
Chris Demarco can't afford to tiptoe around the elephant in the room; Sabrina Ionescu is struggling for form. Whether she has not returned to peak match fitness or she is still carrying some form of injury, it frankly doesn't matter. The New York Liberty head coach was put in situ to make decisions that are best for this team. Pauline Astier is more than capable of holding the fort until Ionescu returns to her devastating best; DeMarco must act now.
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