A potential coaching change for the New York Liberty has raised an unexpected question about Sabrina Ionescu’s future with the team. With Duke head coach Kara Lawson emerging as a possible candidate for the vacant position, one discussion turned toward whether the franchise could part ways with its four-time All-Star, who struggled with injuries and hampered performance this season, if a new voice took over.
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During Wednesday’s episode of “The Ringer WNBA Show,” NY Post reporter Madeline Kenney was asked by host Seerat Sohi about that possibility: “How quickly would Sabrina Ionescu get traded in this instance?”
“That’s what’s tough, right? It’s tough because Sabrina is a franchise player, and the Liberty have showed that in so many ways,” replied Kenney. “They campaigned for her to be First Team All-WNBA this season on a year that she really struggled with injuries and everything … and, like, she is the face of the franchise.”
The exchange was speculative; it did not indicate that New York was shopping Ionescu or considering a trade. The discussion also referenced a recent panel, with Kenney saying Liberty co-owner Clara Wu Tsai had praised Ionescu’s resilience and toughness.
Sabrina Ionescu endured an injury-interrupted 2026 WNBA season that limited her availability. The former No. 1 overall pick and 2024 WNBA champion missed the opening five games with a preseason ankle injury and later dealt with back soreness. Despite being limited to 31 appearances, the four-time All-Star still managed to average 14.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game.
Why Sabrina Ionescu Remains Central to the New York Liberty
The coaching vacancy driving this speculation opened when the Liberty fired head coach Chris DeMarco on Nov. 3 after just one season. DeMarco led New York to the Commissioner’s Cup title, a 26–18 regular-season record and the No. 8 playoff seed. After sweeping the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in the first round, the Liberty were swept in the semifinals by the Atlanta Dream, leaving the franchise looking for its third head coach in three seasons.
Kara Lawson entered the conversation when NBC Sports included the Duke head coach among the college candidates New York could consider in a Nov. 3 analysis. However, Lawson’s name has emerged through media speculation, not a confirmed interview or appointment. Duke’s official coaching directory also continues to list Lawson as its head coach for the 2026–27 season.
If the Liberty do pursue Lawson, she brings an elite basketball pedigree as a 2005 WNBA champion with the Sacramento Monarch. She is entering her seventh season at Duke and recently served as the head coach of the 2026 USA Basketball Women’s National Team. Lawson led Team USA to a 6–0 FIBA Women’s World Cup gold-medal campaign, with Liberty star Breanna Stewart earning tournament MVP honors while playing under her.
Sabrina Ionescu’s offensive role has also evolved through the Liberty’s coaching changes. Her usage rate increased from 21.5% in 2021 under Walt Hopkins to 26.6% in 2022, Brondello’s first season. It later rose to 28.2% in 2025, Brondello’s final season, before declining to 24.6% in 2026 under DeMarco.
These shifts show how her share of the Liberty’s offense changed across coaching eras, although they do not establish that coaching alone caused those differences. DeMarco continued to emphasize her importance, saying, “We go as Sab goes.”
In April, New York re-signed Sabrina Ionescu, Stewart, and Jonquel Jones to multi-year deals, with General Manager Jonathan Kolb describing them as “three cornerstone players” who chose to invest in one another and the organization’s long-term legacy.
While the next coaching appointment will shape New York’s tactical direction, Sabrina Ionescu’s position as a cornerstone player makes her future central to the franchise’s plans. The hypothetical trade question reflects her importance to New York’s identity, but it remains speculation rather than a reported plan from the Liberty. The franchise’s multi-year commitment and public backing underscore why she remains central to its future.