NEW YORK (AP) — Sabrina Ionescu is ready to make her season debut for New York after suffering a foot injury in the preseason.
The Liberty’s star guard practiced Saturday and said afterward she’s good to go against Dallas on Sunday.
“It’s exciting to me,” Ionescu said after practice. “I haven’t had a regular-season game yet, so I’m excited. It feels like it’s been a while. It hasn’t, but it feels like it’s been forever having to watch from the sidelines.”
Ionescu, who averaged 18.2 points, 5.7 assists and 4.9 rebounds last season, knew the injury wasn't major when she went down against Connecticut on May 3, but that it was going to cost her some time.
“I knew I was going to be out for a little bit, and thankfully, I came back a lot sooner than I was supposed to with returning now,” she said. “So I’m really excited about that. I had some structural damage, but thankfully it responded quickly, came back. It was nothing that was going to sideline me or need surgery."
Coach Chris DeMarco said Ionescu would be on a minutes restriction and with New York playing back-to-back games, he wasn't sure if she would also play on Monday against Portland. The Liberty were 3-2 without Ionescu and are in the midst of a seven-game homestand.
While Ionescu is back, New York is still missing Betnijah Laney-Hamilton who is out for personal reasons. DeMarco said she wouldn't play Sunday. She was practicing Saturday when reporters could watch.
New York is finally getting completely healthy. Satou Sabally made her season debut in Thursday's loss to Golden State. Leonie Fiebich was taking shots after practice as she just got to New York after winning a championship in a Spanish League.
Raquel Carrera is ready to make her debut The Spanish forward was drafted by Atlanta in 2021 and traded to New York the next season. She's been playing overseas the past few years, but finally is in the WNBA.
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FILE - New York Liberty's Sabrina Ionescu shoots during the 3-point contest at the WNBA All-Star basketball weekend, July 18, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
MADRID (AP) — Atletico Madrid players dedicated the team's 2-0 win over Manchester United in the Champions League to team captain Jorge “Koke” Resurrección, whose mother died Tuesday morning.
Pablo Barrios scored less than a minute into the game and immediately paid tribute to Koke by holding up six fingers in a reference to the captain's No. 6 jersey.
“Today was very important, not just for the team, but for Koke and Borja (Koke's brother) and their whole family. It was a very tough day for them,” Barrios said. “This victory is dedicated to them. The news was tough on everyone. I knew that if I scored I was going to do that gesture and it happened.”
After Atletico's second goal, scored by Ademola Lookman in the second half, Marcos Llorente held up Koke's jersey to the crowd, which cheered and applauded.
Atletico said Koke’s mother, Ana Merodio Borja, died early Tuesday in Madrid. The club did not provide a cause of death.
“Of course, today was a very difficult day for the whole team,” Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak said. “I can only imagine how hard it has been for Koke and his family. It was a tough day to play. In the end, it’s something so sad and significant that you don’t forget it just because you are on the field. Even though we won, I’m not thinking much about soccer, I’m thinking about Koke."
Koke, who was set to make his 750th appearance with Atletico, did not play in the league-phase match at Metropolitano stadium. He was replaced by U.S. midfielder Johnny Cardoso.
“We missed (Koke) today,” Cardoso said. “We know it’s a very difficult moment. May God comfort his family during this moment. They know that we are here to support them.”
UEFA authorized a moment of silence before the game at the Metropolitano, and Atletico's players wore black armbands.
A moment of silence was also observed ahead of Atletico's youth league match.
Barrios’ goal after 49 seconds was the second-fastest scored by an Atletico player in the Champions League behind Conor Gallagher’s 28-second goal against Real Madrid in the round of 16 in 2025, according to UEFA. Atletico’s second goal by Lookman came in the 79th minute.
“The loss of a family member of a player as important as Koke obviously hurt, but the players played a great match,” Atletico coach Diego Simeone said.
Koke’s brother, Borja Resurrección, is an assistant coach of Atletico’s under-19 squad.
The club's flag outside the Metropolitano was flying at half-staff.
See AP’s full soccer coverage here
Atletico Madrid players observe a moment of silence for late mother of Atletico Madrid's Koke before the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Manchester United in Madrid, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Atletico Madrid's Pablo Barrios, right, scores their opening goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Manchester United in Madrid, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Atletico Madrid's Pablo Barrios celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Manchester United in Madrid, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Atletico Madrid's Pablo Barrios celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Manchester United in Madrid, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Atletico Madrid's Pablo Barrios celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Manchester United in Madrid, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
FILE - Spain's Jorge Resurrección, ''Koke'', looks on ahead of an international friendly soccer match between Germany and Spain in Duesseldorf, Germany, March 23, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Probst, File)
