Liberty guard to miss game against Fever due to back soreness

New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu will miss Saturday night's game against the Indiana Fever because of back soreness. The player practiced Friday, the first time this season that the team had all players available for training. She reported soreness in her back after the session.

" She expressed hope of playing Saturday but remained uncertain. "See how I feel, taking every day in stride and see how it responds to what I do," Ionescu said. "I haven't really tried to think too much into it. Want to be out there competing. " The back issue has kept her out of recent games following a preseason ankle injury that caused her to miss the first five contests.

She appeared in one game this season on May 24 against the Dallas Wings, after which treatment became necessary.

The team's coach said at Saturday morning shootaround that Ionescu wants to return and is improving. He added that the goal is to have her available for an upcoming road trip. Rookie guard Pauline Astier has started in her place and is averaging 11.8 points, 3.7 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game. New York enters the matchup at 6-4 while Indiana stands at 5-4.