Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu will return for Bay Area homecoming following neck injury

Sabrina Ionescu has confirmed she will play in the New York Liberty's game against the Valkyries at Chase Center in San Francisco on Wednesday night, marking her official WNBA homecoming in the Bay Area. Ionescu, who is from Walnut Creek, was previously listed as questionable due to neck tightness that caused her to miss Sunday's game in Seattle, but she stated her neck is feeling better and she is looking forward to playing in front of friends and family.

Ionescu grew up attending Golden State Warriors games in Oakland, idolizing Stephen Curry, and has visited Chase Center many times as a fan since the team moved to San Francisco. However, Wednesday night's game represents the first time she will play on that court. She expressed excitement about returning to the Bay Area to play, anticipating a warm welcome home and aiming to savor the experience despite not knowing exactly how the game will unfold.

Despite her strong Bay Area connections, Ionescu emphasized her commitment to the New York Liberty, the team that drafted her. She stated she has no plans to play anywhere else and intends to remain with the Liberty for the rest of her career, declaring "I'm where my feet are at."

This game marks Ionescu's first time playing in the Bay Area since her college days. Currently in the season, she is averaging a career-high 20.3 points per game, along with 5.2 assists, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.8 steals, as she pursues her fourth All-Star selection.