Honestly, keeping track of the ny liberty injury report feels like a full-time job lately. If you've been following the squad through the 2025 post-season and into this current 2026 bridge period, you know it's been a total rollercoaster. One day we’re celebrating a deep playoff run, and the next, we're refreshing Twitter (or X, whatever) to see why our stars aren't suiting up for the winter leagues.
It’s messy.
Right now, as we sit in January 2026, the Liberty are in this weird transition phase. We have a new head coach, Chris DeMarco, taking the reins after Sandy Brondello’s departure, and the medical room has been busier than the Barclays Center ticket office.
The Sabrina Ionescu Situation
The biggest cloud hanging over Brooklyn right now is Sabrina Ionescu. If you were hoping to see her lighting it up in the Unrivaled 3x3 league this winter, I've got some bad news. She’s officially out. The league confirmed it earlier this month—she won’t be participating in any on-court activities for the 2026 Unrivaled campaign.
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Why? It’s a bit vague, but the word is she’s nursing an injury sustained during the tail end of the last WNBA season. Some reports point toward a lingering toe issue, while others mention the general wear and tear of a brutal 44-game schedule. Basically, she’s choosing long-term health over a winter paycheck. Can’t really blame her, but it definitely leaves a hole in the highlight reels.
Stewie’s Health Check
Then there’s Breanna Stewart. Stewie is a warrior, period. We saw her grinding through the late stages of the 2025 season with a bone bruise in her right knee. Remember that Los Angeles Sparks game in July? She set a screen, rolled, and you could just tell something was off. She ended up missing about 13 games.
The good news? She’s back on the court. She actually suited up for Unrivaled recently, facing off against her Liberty teammate Natasha Cloud. Watching them play against each other is kinda surreal, but it’s the best evidence we have that Stewart’s knee is holding up. She’s playing around 30 minutes a night in the 3x3 circuit, which is a massive relief for anyone worried about her availability for the 2026 WNBA tip-off.
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The Rest of the Ward
The ny liberty injury report doesn't just stop at the superstars. It’s the depth that really got tested last year.
- Betnijah Laney-Hamilton: She’s been the biggest question mark. After undergoing left knee surgery, she sat out a huge chunk of time. She even missed training camp last year. The focus for her is purely 2026 WNBA preparation. She isn't playing winter ball; she’s in the lab with the physical therapists.
- Nyara Sabally: Nyara has been on and off the report so many times it's dizzying. Between back issues and knee soreness, she missed about half of the games last season. She’s talent personified, but her body just hasn’t cooperated.
- Kennedy Burke: She dealt with a nasty right calf strain late last year. Most indications suggest she’s through the worst of it, but calf injuries are notoriously "stabby"—they feel fine until you sprint, and then pop, you're back to square one.
Why This Matters for 2026
With Chris DeMarco coming in from the Golden State Warriors staff, the Liberty are looking to modernize their pace and space. You can't do that if your primary ball-handler (Sabrina) and your defensive anchor (Laney-Hamilton) are in street clothes.
The team finished last year reeling. They were 5-9 in games without Stewart. That’s not a championship-caliber stat. It’s a "we’re desperate" stat.
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The medical staff—which Brondello used to praise constantly for their "walk-through" recovery days—is under a lot of pressure right now. They have to manage the load of these players who are now playing year-round between the WNBA, EuroBasket, and new domestic leagues like Unrivaled.
What You Should Do Now
If you're looking at the ny liberty injury report for betting or just because you’re a die-hard fan, keep your eyes on the localized New York beat writers. National reports often lag by 48 hours.
Check the status of Leonie Fiebich too. She’s been healthy but carries a heavy load with the German national team. If she comes back exhausted, the Liberty’s wing depth becomes a house of cards.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Monitor the Unrivaled box scores specifically for Natasha Cloud and Breanna Stewart’s minutes; if those start to drop, worry.
- Watch for official Liberty training camp rosters in April; that's when we'll know if Laney-Hamilton is truly 100%.
- Ignore the "probable" tags on aggregate sites; for the Liberty, "probable" usually means a game-time decision based on how they feel during warmups.
The road back to the Finals depends entirely on the training room. Stay tuned, because with this team, the injury report is just as important as the playbook.