Report: Ionescu played through hand injury in WNBA Finals
New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu sustained a high-grade tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in her right thumb during Game 4 of the WNBA Finals, a source told ESPN's Alexa Philippou.
Ionescu's injured shooting hand isn't expected to require surgery, Philippou added. She'll reportedly be re-evaluated in four weeks and is expected to make a full recovery.
Ionescu struggled in the last two games of the championship series, averaging 7.5 points on 17.6% shooting. Her 1-of-19 performance in Game 5 was the worst in WNBA playoff history among players who attempted at least 15 shots, according to CBS Sports' Jack Maloney.
New York managed to defeat the Minnesota Lynx and capture the franchise's first-ever WNBA title in spite of Ionescu's off night.
The former No. 1 overall pick was a huge part of the Liberty's postseason run, averaging 16.9 points, 5.3 boards, 5.3 assists, and 1.6 steals. Her step-back triple with a second to spare capped New York's dramatic 15-point comeback win over the Lynx in Game 3.