Liberty coach not worried by Sabrina Ionescu’s playoff struggles: ‘We go as Sab goes’

Cite

APA MLA Chicago

Kenney, M. (2026, September 29). Liberty coach not worried by Sabrina Ionescu’s playoff struggles: ‘We go as Sab goes’. New York Post. https://nypost.com/2026/09/28/sports/chris-demarco-not-worried-by-sabrina-ionescu-liberty-playoff-struggles/

Dated when The Aporia collected the article, usually within hours of publication. Check the original for its exact date and byline.

New York Post · collected 2026-09-29 · by Madeline Kenney

Quick Summary

Sabrina Ionescu struggled in Game 1 of the WNBA playoffs for the New York Liberty, scoring only 13 points on 14 shots while contributing six assists but no rebounds. Despite this, the team won by a margin of 16 points, thanks largely to Breanna Stewart’s performance. Coach Chris DeMarco remains confident, stating that “we go as Sab goes,” and emphasizes Ionescu’s importance despite her inconsistent play throughout the season due to injuries.

Written by AI on 2026-10-02, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

The New York Liberty secured a shocking 91-75 victory over the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in Game 1 of their best-of-three WNBA playoff series on Sunday, April 23, 2026. Despite finishing as the eighth seed with a record of 26-18, the Liberty's star player Breanna Stewart led the charge with an impressive performance of 34 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists. The win puts the Liberty one game away from eliminating the previously undefeated Lynx, who must now win Game 2 to avoid being the first top-seeded team in history to fail to advance past the first round since a format change in 2022.

Stewart's clutch play was pivotal, as she scored crucial points and made key defensive plays against her former college teammate Napheesa Collier. The Liberty capitalized on multiple Lynx turnovers and foul trouble, with Collier and All-Star center Natasha Howard each fouling out of the game. Rookie Olivia Miles struggled in her first playoff appearance, scoring just 11 points.

With Game 2 scheduled for Tuesday, April 25, at home, the Liberty now hold a narrow advantage but remain wary of a potential Lynx comeback, as they narrowly escaped a similar situation last year against Phoenix. The Liberty’s defense was instrumental in limiting the Lynx's scoring opportunities and forcing turnovers that kept the game close until the final quarter when New York pulled away. Despite their historic lead, Stewart emphasized the need for continued focus to avoid being caught off guard by Minnesota's resilience.

Written for “Liberty-Lynx WNBA Playoff Matchup” on 2026-10-31, grounded in this article and the 13 other(s) covering the same event.

Story

📰 Liberty-Lynx WNBA Playoff Matchup

Sports · 14 article(s) covering the same event. Compare every outlet's account →

Compared with similar articles

This article reads unscored and hedges 0% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.

Liberty touting a psychological edge for Lynx rivalry playoff showdown Different event

New York Post

Hedges 0 of 7 claims Outlet record 66/100

“The articles discuss different aspects of the Liberty team and do not describe the same specific game or incident.”

Breaking down Liberty-Lynx WNBA playoff matchup, plus a prediction Different event

New York Post

Hedges 1 of 45 claims Outlet record 66/100

“The articles discuss different aspects of the Liberty's playoff situation without describing the same specific incident or time frame.”

Liberty vs. Lynx prediction: Buy low on NY to cover Game 1 spread Different event

New York Post

Hedges 2 of 20 claims Outlet record 66/100

“The articles discuss different aspects of the Liberty's playoff game against the Lynx and do not describe the exact same incident or moment.”

The trap Liberty know is waiting as they try to close out Lynx Same event

New York Post

Hedges 0 of 36 claims Outlet record 66/100

New York Liberty face the Atlanta Dream in Game 1 of the WNBA semifinals Different event

Toronto Star

Hedges 1 of 32 claims Outlet record 64/100

“The articles discuss different events: one covers Sabrina Ionescu's performance in a recent game, while the other discusses preparation for an upcoming playoff series against the Atlanta Dream.”

Liberty oust top-seeded Lynx to reach second round of WNBA playoffs in historic upset Different event

New York Post

Hedges 0 of 35 claims Outlet record 66/100

“While both articles discuss the Liberty's performance in a WNBA playoff game, Article A focuses on Sabrina Ionescu's late-game play and optimism, while Article B describes the overall outcome of a historic upset against the top-seeded Lynx.”

Breanna Stewart's 34 points leads the Liberty in Game 1, and pushes the top-seeded Lynx to the brink Different event

Toronto Star

Hedges 1 of 9 claims Outlet record 64/100

“The articles cover different aspects of the game and focus on different players (Breanna Stewart in Article A, Sabrina Ionescu in Article B).”

Breanna Stewart making WNBA playoff history is no surprise — and gives Liberty reason to dream Different event

New York Post

Hedges 1 of 6 claims Outlet record 66/100

“The articles cover different aspects of the same game but describe distinct moments and players (Stewart vs. Ionescu), indicating they are not describing the exact same incident.”

No. 8-seeded Liberty sweep top-seeded Lynx 87-71 in quarterfinals, advance to WNBA semifinals Different event

Toronto Star

Hedges 0 of 23 claims Outlet record 64/100

“Article A discusses Ionescu's performance during a game, while Article B describes the Liberty team sweeping the Lynx and advancing to semifinals in their playoff series.”

Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu puts past struggles behind her with dominant Game 2 Different event

New York Post

Hedges 0 of 23 claims Outlet record 66/100

“The articles describe Sabrina Ionescu's performance in consecutive games but refer to different specific times and outcomes, suggesting they cover distinct events.”

How this article was measured signals, leaning charts, publisher record, byline, topics and claims

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted

sentences that state something as happening or true

Uncertain

0 of 28 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")

Leaning

not political

takes no side on a contested political question

Publisher signals

66/100

New York Post's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.

Outlets on this story

Sports

Same framing elsewhere

articles that frame the event the way this one does

Analyzed 2026-09-29 · how these are computed

How this is being covered How these are calculated →

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability

Source leaning vs. consistency

Publisher

New York Post · 15592 article(s) · 35 correction(s) detected

Running correction rate · 35 correction(s)

2026-10-26

Ex-NYPD cop charged in George Washington Bridge road rage killing free on $1M bail

2026-10-23

Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Lupin’ Season 4 On Netflix, Where The Master Thief Finds Out Who Pulled Off A Copycat Heist While He Was In Prison

2026-10-20

ISIS terrorist who plotted NYC mass slaughter gets 50 more years for blinding prison guard

2026-10-18

The AI bubble is about to burst — and a big market correction is coming

2026-10-16

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs moved out of New Jersey prison days after head injury, reports of special treatment

2026-10-13

‘Compassionate’ drug policy is anything but — woke Canada shows us why

2026-10-10

Cornell set to become first Ivy to offer degrees in prison

2026-10-09

Prison where Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is serving sentence is at the center of sex abuse scandal

2026-10-08

Christa Pike is ‘up and walking’ after botched execution — and she remembers: ‘She is angry’

2026-10-08

Christa Pike’s aunt believes killer’s survival of botched execution is God’s will: ‘God is in control, not the Department of Correction’

2026-10-08

Manson killer Patricia Krenwinkel granted parole again after nearly 6 decades behind bars

2026-10-07

Former corrections officer allegedly killed his wife — and forced his kids to help

2026-10-04

Ex-US Attorney will lead independent review of Christa Pike botched execution

2026-10-03

Tennessee prison chief resigns after Christa Pike’s botched execution

2026-10-03

Inmates getting paper straws in Canadian prisons for ‘safer snorting’ of drugs

2026-10-02

Gypsy Rose Blanchard and Ken Urker’s relationship timeline: From prison proposal to his untimely death

2026-10-01

‘Triple-G’ weight loss drug update: Even on the lowest dose, trial patients lost 12.7% of their weight

2026-10-01

Christa Pike likely has ‘brain injury’ after botched execution — here’s what went wrong: ‘Degraded’ drugs, damaged veins

2026-09-29

Tennessee’s first female death row inmate in 200 years snubs her last meal ahead of Wednesday execution

2026-09-27

Trump asked China’s Xi Jinping if he’d ‘like to buy’ American weapons, US ambassador reveals

2026-09-27

Police give update on Hayden Panettiere’s death investigation after overdose ruling

2026-09-26

NYC’s embattled jail system saw startling 76% spike in inmate assaults and fights

2026-09-24

‘Pioneer Woman’ Ree Drummond’s son Jamar detained for biting cop months before assault arrest

2026-09-22

GOP’s Bruce Blakeman promises to ease solitary confinement limits as he picks up correction union nod

2026-09-19

‘Landman’ Season 3 Release Date Update: When Does The Next Season of ‘Landman’ Come Out?

2026-09-19

Nick Reiner hasn’t received ‘even $5’ from $1.6M family trust, lawyers claim

2026-09-18

UCLA chancellor pressured to retract rebuke over event with 9/11 ‘mastermind’ lawyer

2026-09-18

Bo Bichette’s willingness to change positions could reshape Mets’ infield

2026-09-18

Mamdani mourns NYC thief accused of murdering man with special needs

2026-09-18

Alabama killer’s last words before he’s executed for 1998 pawnshop double murder revealed

2026-09-18

Shock poll shows another huge swing in California governor’s race

2026-09-15

Fast food chains are making a major shift in customer service amid complaints of a ‘lonely and disconnected’ store experience

2026-09-15

Are Cocoa Puffs Maria Sten’s Favorite Cereal? The ‘Reacher’ and ‘Neagley’ Star Sets The Record Straight: “I Have to Make Clarifications”

2026-09-06

Long Island inmates in jail on drug charges use photo program to get clean

2026-09-06

‘Landman’ Season 3 Release Date Update: When Does ‘Landman’ Return With New Episodes?

Who wrote this

Madeline Kenney

50 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction

🔮 Regardless of what happens Saturday, a first-time champion will be crowned.

2026-10-29 · assertive framing · WNBA can make Game 7 a memorable moment in otherwise forgettable Finals

🔮 But they will have to do it without Jaedyn Shaw and Rose Lavelle, two of the club’s leading scorers.

2026-10-25 · assertive framing · Gotham lose top stars to injury with NWSL Shield still on the line

🔮 A 27-point blowout prompted Gabby Williams to immediately deliver an impassioned message to her teammates in a huddle on the floor.

2026-10-24 · assertive framing · Not only did Valkyries win WNBA Finals Game 4, they rediscovered their identity

🔮 This unfamiliar position has forced the U.S. to confront a new reality in which reclaiming the top spot will require measuring itself against the team that holds it.

2026-10-14 · assertive framing · US women erase two-goal deficit to tie World Cup champion Spain

🔮 Entering Friday, with New York on the brink of elimination, all Stewart could think about was extending the Liberty’s season.

2026-10-10 · assertive framing · Breanna Stewart calls 2026 a ‘missed opportunity’ — and vows to spill her roster thoughts with GM

🔮 The Liberty would like to think they could be the first and vowed to chip away at the mountain one game at a time. “The mentality is just that it’s not over,” Ionescu said.

2026-10-09 · assertive framing · Sabrina Ionescu shoulders blame as Liberty face elimination in Game 3

🔮 When the Women’s Champions Classic returns to Barclays Center later this year, the spotlight will shine on some of the biggest stars in women’s college basketball.

2026-10-08 · assertive framing · Check out the unique Breanna Stewart bobblehead coming to UConn’s Brooklyn showcase

🔮 The Liberty, now trailing 2-0 in the best-of-five semifinals, learned after the game they had a reset timeout after all and could’ve advanced the ball on the final possession.

2026-10-08 · assertive framing · Wild timeout controversy hangs over Liberty’s Game 2 loss that puts season on brink

🔮 NOW“I would probably say that too if I didn’t want to admit that we got beat by somebody else,” Dream wing Rhyne Howard said Tuesday.

2026-10-07 · assertive framing · Liberty see self-inflicted turnover problem as Game 1 culprit — but Dream star isn’t buying it

🔮 “Maybe just crashing and trying to make things happen, be a little bit more physical in that sense.

2026-10-06 · assertive framing · Jonquel Jones can’t let Angel Reese continue to torment Liberty

Also by Madeline Kenney

WNBA can make Game 7 a memorable moment in otherwise forgettable Finals

2026-10-29 · New York Post

Gotham lose top stars to injury with NWSL Shield still on the line

2026-10-25 · New York Post

Not only did Valkyries win WNBA Finals Game 4, they rediscovered their identity

2026-10-24 · New York Post

Liberty mailbag: The question everyone wants to know

2026-10-17 · New York Post

Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.

All 50 articles by Madeline Kenney →

Topics

Game 1 Liberty MINNEAPOLIS Post Sports+ WNBA

Subjects

Ionescu PERSON · 10× Liberty ORG · 4× DeMarco PERSON · 3× Sab PERSON · 2× MINNEAPOLIS GPE · 1× Madeline Kenney PERSON · 1× NOWIonescu PERSON · 1× Post Sports+ ORG · 1× Sabrina Ionescu PERSON · 1× WNBA ORG · 1×

Narrative

“I do think sometimes we all do it as coaches, media, players — somebody gets injured, and it’s hard to just pop right back in and start where you left off, it’s difficult,” DeMarco said.

framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-09-29

🔮 The beauty in Ionescu’s game is her relentless belief that the next shot will go in, regardless of how the game went up to that point.

2026-09-29 · New York Post

Liberty coach not worried by Sabrina Ionescu’s playoff struggles: ‘We go as Sab goes’ · assertive framing

Claims (28 extracted, 0 hedged)

MINNEAPOLIS — Sabrina Ionescu splashed a 3 and then flashed a smile at the Target Center crowd late in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s win. asserted

Ionescu → splash → win

The beauty in Ionescu’s game is her relentless belief that the next shot will go in, regardless of how the game went up to that point. asserted

game → go → point

We’ve got you covered on the Liberty beat Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Madeline Kenney about all things Liberty and WNBA. asserted

you → get → things

NOWIonescu checked out of the game for the final time 20 seconds later, ensuring she exited on a high note after what had been an overall tough game amid a difficult season. asserted

what → check → season

Ionescu finished with 13 points on 14 shots, zero rebounds and six assists. asserted

Ionescu → finish → shots

The Liberty won by 16 anyway, piloted by Breanna Stewart’s historic performance. asserted

Liberty → win → performance

But Stewart can’t always do it by herself. asserted

Stewart → do → herself

Leonie Fiebich hit some big shots and played a role in slowing Olivia Miles. asserted

Fiebich → hit → Miles

Jonquel Jones battled in the paint. asserted

Jones → battle → paint

Ionescu had her moments. asserted

Ionescu → have → moments

But the Liberty need Ionescu to be more efficient and consistent if they want to go as far as they hope to. asserted

they → need → ?

Coach Chris DeMarco said he isn’t worried about Ionescu. asserted

he → say → Ionescu

Before Game 1, he stressed the importance of Ionescu to the team’s overall success. asserted

he → stress → success

“We go as Sab goes,” DeMarco said. asserted

DeMarco → go → ?

Ionescu spent much of the 2026 campaign trying to find consistency adapting to a new system and different role while working her way back from injuries. asserted

Ionescu → spend → injuries

She missed the beginning of the season with a foot injury, then dealt with a back issue that hampered her even after her return. asserted

that → miss → return

Outside of a strong July stretch, Ionescu hasn’t looked like herself. asserted

Ionescu → look → herself

This season, she averaged 14.6 points, her fewest since 2021. asserted

she → average → 2021

She converted only 29.5 percent of her 3-point attempts, a clip well below her career average. asserted

She → convert → average

In the final four regular-season games, Ionescu shot 28.6 percent from the field and 29.2 percent from deep while averaging 11.3 points. asserted

Ionescu → shoot → points

DeMarco lauded Ionescu for bringing “the right energy,” despite her struggles. asserted

DeMarco → laud → struggles

“I do think sometimes we all do it as coaches, media, players — somebody gets injured, and it’s hard to just pop right back in and start where you left off, it’s difficult,” DeMarco said. asserted

DeMarco → think → coaches

“We’re not in this position without her. asserted

We → ’re → her

She’s won us some massive games, some late-game comebacks, and as I said earlier, we’re gonna be as good as she is, and we know she’s up for the challenge. asserted

she → win → challenge

This is what she does. asserted

she → do → what

She’s a clutch player, and playoff time, this is where she goes. asserted

she → ’ → ?

So I think with Sab especially, I’m not worried about her. asserted

I → think → her

She knows what she needs to do.” asserted

she → know → what

💬Give feedback

🕘History 🎫Support

Terms · Privacy · beta v2.0.0

Articles to 31 Oct 2026