#Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu out at least a month in injury blow

Sabrina Ionescu isn’t expected to need surgery. That’s the good news. The bad news?

The Liberty’s prized rookie and top draft pick will likely miss at least a month after she suffered a Grade 3 sprained left ankle in Friday night’s loss to the Dream, according to The Athletic. X-Rays came back negative, but an MRI revealed the severity of the sprain, the Associated Press reported.

The former Oregon star suffered the injury in the second quarter, having already scored 10 points in her third game, all Liberty losses. She was off to a fantastic start to her first season, exploding for 33 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in a loss on Wednesday in the WNBA’s bubble at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. She rolled her left ankle, stepping on the foot Atlanta’s Betnijah Laney while bringing the ball upcourt.

Typically, a Grade 3 sprain takes months to heal, since it’s a tear of the ankle ligament. For now, Ionescu will be hoping for swelling to go down and range of motion in the ankle to improve, according to the team. She is still being evaluated by doctors.

Liberty owner Joe Tsai tweeted Saturday: “We will provide the best care for Sabrina. She will come back stronger.”