Liberty Stumble Against Dream, Ionescu Injury Woes Persist

On August 23rd, 2025, the New York Liberty faced a tough defeat against the Atlanta Dream. The game was never close, with the Dream racing out to a double-digit lead in the first quarter and maintaining control throughout. The Liberty's efforts to mount a comeback in the fourth quarter fell short.

The Liberty's struggles were exacerbated by the absence of star player Sabrina Ionescu, who did not make the trip to Atlanta due to an injury sustained in the team's previous game. Ionescu had landed hard on her left foot, and while head coach Sandy Brondello didn't seem overly concerned about the long-term impact, Ionescu's status for the Liberty's next game against the Connecticut Sun remains uncertain.

The Liberty's poor performance was not limited to Ionescu's injury, however. The team was outworked on the boards, with the Dream grabbing 17 offensive rebounds. Brondello acknowledged the team's "lack of blocking out" and the "deflating" impact it had on their defensive efforts. Despite a better showing in the second half, the Liberty simply couldn't overcome the early deficit.

With the loss, the Liberty have fallen to fifth place in the standings, and their playoff push has stalled. The team knows they need to get healthy and clean up their mistakes if they hope to make a deep postseason run. As Brondello put it, "We're on the struggle bus," but the Liberty are determined to turn things around.