BROOKLYN — New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu offered words of encouragement to fellow WNBA standout Caitlin Clark as the latter continues to face injury challenges in her second professional season. The message came after Ionescu helped lead the Liberty to a 98-84 win over the Indiana Fever on Tuesday night, despite an early shooting slump and lingering fatigue from a packed All-Star weekend.
During the game at Barclays Center, Ionescu struggled initially, missing eight of her first nine shots, but then recovered to hit four of six attempts in the final quarter. The Liberty’s victory occurred without Clark, who has been sidelined by a groin injury that also kept her out of several recent games and the All-Star festivities hosted earlier in Indianapolis, Clark’s home base.
Ionescu Shares Advice and Support Amid Clark’s Setbacks
Ionescu expressed optimism that Clark’s current difficulties will turn into future advantages. She told Clark,
“I told her, although it sucks now, it’s going to be a blessing in disguise,”
and added,
“You just have to stay positive about it, knowing you’re going to become a better player and better person from it.”
—Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty point guard
This message resonated deeply given Ionescu’s own history of injuries early in her WNBA career. Although she enjoyed a healthy collegiate run at Oregon, her professional experience began with numerous physical setbacks, including a season-ending ankle sprain in just her third game in the WNBA’s Bradenton bubble. Ionescu struggled to reach her intended potential during her first full season — posting an average of 11.8 points on roughly 37 percent shooting — while navigating the demands of reviving a struggling Liberty franchise.
Parallel Injury Challenges for Top WNBA Talents
Caitlin Clark, like Ionescu, came into the league after four healthy years in college—in her case, at Iowa. Clark made an impressive entrance this season by recording a triple-double in the opener, joining an elite group of WNBA players to achieve that feat. However, her momentum stalled after sustaining a quadriceps injury that sidelined her for about three weeks.
Clark returned on June 14 to score 32 points against the Liberty, handing them their first loss of the season and securing a crucial Commissioner’s Cup qualifying victory for the Indiana Fever. The Fever later clinched the Commissioner’s Cup title with a win over Minnesota, marking their first significant achievement under Clark’s leadership. Unfortunately, Clark missed the championship game and has since struggled to maintain the exceptional scoring and assist numbers she posted as a rookie.
She continues to average 16.5 points and 8.8 assists per game—second only to Alyssa Thomas in assists—but these statistics fall short of the lofty expectations she and many observers hold.
Ionescu’s Leadership Extends Beyond the Court
Throughout Clark’s injury struggles, Ionescu has been a consistent source of motivation and guidance. The two players were seen interacting during breaks at a recent Indiana doubleheader, and Clark chose Ionescu as her first pick for the All-Star draft, showing mutual respect and camaraderie.
Despite a difficult start to the season herself, Ionescu has improved markedly. She boasts an effective field goal percentage of 49.7, which accounts for the added value of her three-point shooting, and has solidified her status as a perennial All-Star and key contributor to the Liberty’s resurgence.
Ionescu reflected on her past injuries, offering Clark advice drawn from personal experience:
“In 2021, I had four soft tissue injuries that next year that a lot of people didn’t know about,”
she said.
“I played through two calves and two hamstrings, and kind of just tried to play through it and didn’t say anything. It’s kind of similar.”
—Sabrina Ionescu
She further emphasized the importance of learning to manage physical setbacks:
“When you don’t go through any injury early on in your career, you have no idea how to maneuver it. That’s something I was able to talk to her about at All-Star, is that you almost sometimes have to go through it to be able to understand, like what your body needs, and you’re able to tell what you can play through and what you can’t, and just set yourself up with the right team of trainers and training and knowing the offseason is long.”
—Sabrina Ionescu
Team Dynamics and Ionescu’s Emerging Role as Mentor
Ionescu’s mentorship role extends beyond Clark. Her teammate Isabelle Harrison praised Ionescu’s competitive spirit and support during injury periods, saying,
“She would ask me how I was doing during my injuries, and, like, even when I was not playing in the league at all, I didn’t know she even knew me. So she would check in on me during her big moments.”
—Isabelle Harrison, New York Liberty forward
Harrison added,
“Being here already, I was already, like a fan of Sab, but her competitiveness, it just doesn’t let us get lax. It makes us play even harder … She’s over everything. I love her passion and her will to win on every single play, and I can’t speak highly enough of Sabrina.”
—Isabelle Harrison
Her leadership and dedication are integral as the Liberty continue to build their playoff credentials under general manager Jonathan Kolb and former Phoenix Mercury coach Sandy Brondello. After steering the franchise back into postseason contention despite numerous obstacles, Ionescu’s growth as both a player and a leader symbolizes the Liberty’s ongoing rise in the WNBA hierarchy.
Looking Ahead: Recovery and Growth in the WNBA Landscape
The ongoing recovery of Caitlin Clark will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike, as she remains one of the league’s most exciting and promising talents. Ionescu’s support and example provide a roadmap for overcoming the physical and mental challenges that injuries present in a demanding professional sport.
As both players navigate their careers amid the highs and lows of success and setbacks, their experiences underline the resilience required to excel at the highest levels. For the New York Liberty and the Indiana Fever, the paths of Ionescu and Clark will shape the future competitiveness of their teams and the WNBA as a whole.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why was Caitlin Clark sitting with Taylor Swift?
A. Clark was spotted with Swift in a suite at Arrowhead Stadium during Saturday’s Chiefs-Texans divisional playoff. This marks the first time the two were seen together at a game. Clark mentioned that Swift had invited her earlier in the season.
Q. Why is Caitlin Clark sitting with Taylor?
A. In December, Caitlin Clark shared in an interview that Taylor Swift invited her to a Kansas City Chiefs game. It seems Clark accepted this invitation. Clark and Swift were seen together in a box at the Chiefs-Texans playoff game on January 18 at Arrowhead Stadium.
Q. What did Taylor Swift give Caitlin Clark?
A. Taylor Swift gifted Caitlin Clark all the available Eras Tour shirts and sweatshirts. When Caitlin, a WNBA player, went to the Eras Tour in Indianapolis in 2024, Taylor had four bags of merch sent to her.
Q. Is Caitlin Clark hanging out with Taylor Swift?
A. Clark mentioned that both she and Swift enjoyed themselves at the playoff game in Kansas City. She thought it was the “perfect game” to attend with Swift. Clark appreciated seeing Swift’s enthusiasm for the Chiefs and shared that it was a delightful experience for her too.