The New York Liberty are entering a period of uncertainty, and Sabrina Ionescu’s future with the franchise is becoming a topic of growing interest.
After a disappointing early playoff exit, the team made a bold move by parting ways with head coach Sandy Brondello, despite her leading the Liberty to the 2024 WNBA Finals and a franchise-best 32-win regular season. Here’s why Ionescu could leave this offseason, and why the Golden State Valkyries are an option. This is a prediction, not a report.
More WNBA Content From TWSN:
The Indiana Fever Are The Most Resilient Team In WNBA History
Sabrina Ionescu Leaves the New York Liberty?
That coaching change has raised real questions about direction and stability, and for a rising star like Ionescu, those questions matter. With WNBA free agency approaching, and Ionescu entering the final year of her current contract, speculation is heating up about whether she might explore a fresh start elsewhere.
The Liberty have the talent to win, with Ionescu as the centerpiece, alongside Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones. But the coaching uncertainty could be enough to make Ionescu consider her options.
She’s been vocal about the importance of team culture and leadership, and if the front office doesn’t find a coach she aligns with, free agency could become more than just a formality.
Golden State Valkyries an Option?
One of the most logical and intriguing destinations for Ionescu, if she were to leave New York, is the Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA’s newest expansion team based in the Bay Area.
The fit would be more than just basketball. Ionescu grew up in Walnut Creek, California, just a short drive from San Francisco. She has lifelong ties to the Bay Area and has often spoken about her love for the Golden State Warriors, who are behind the Valkyries’ formation.
The Valkyries are entering the league with the kind of resources and fan base that few expansion franchises can match. With the Warriors’ backing and the San Francisco market at their disposal, they’re expected to pursue marquee names from day one, and Ionescu would be the dream signing to build their identity around.
From a basketball perspective, the Valkyries can offer her a clean slate and the chance to be the face of a franchise in her hometown — something that no other WNBA team can offer.
The combination of cultural fit, personal ties, and potential ownership backing makes the Valkyries a real threat to lure her away from New York in 2026.
Sabrina Ionescu Stats
Ionescu’s numbers speak for themselves — and back up the idea that she could be the top free agent on the market when her contract is up.
In the 2024 WNBA season, Ionescu averaged 18.2 points, 6.2 assists, and 4.4 rebounds per game, while shooting over 44% from the field and 41% from three-point range.
She was one of the league’s most dangerous perimeter threats, ranking among the leaders in both three-pointers made and assist-to-turnover ratio. Her combination of playmaking and scoring makes her one of the few players in the league capable of running an offense while also being a go-to scorer.
Beyond the numbers, Ionescu brings a level of competitiveness and leadership that can’t be quantified. She has multiple triple-doubles to her name, was the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 500 points, 200 rebounds, and 200 assists in a season, and has consistently stepped up in big moments.
She’s the kind of player franchises are built around, and the kind of player expansion teams dream of landing.
Final Thoughts
It’s too early to say definitively that Sabrina Ionescu will leave the Liberty — but the writing is on the wall that her future isn’t guaranteed in New York.
With a coaching search underway, free agency on the horizon, and the rise of the Golden State Valkyries offering a compelling hometown alternative, Ionescu has more leverage than ever.
The Liberty will have to convince her not just with money, but with vision, leadership, and stability. Otherwise, we could see one of the WNBA’s brightest stars make the jump west — to become the centerpiece of a brand new era in Bay Area basketball.
Leave a Reply