Sabrina Ionescu Suffers UCL Tear in Finals

Sabrina Ionescu of the New York Liberty suffered a high-grade tear of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in her right thumb during Game 4 of the WNBA Finals, a situation that explains her poor shooting performance in the final games. Despite this injury, the Liberty secured their first championship with a 67-62 overtime victory over the Minnesota Lynx in Game 5, although Ionescu shot just 1-for-19. She will be reevaluated in four weeks and does not require surgery. Ionescu had an impressive season overall, averaging 18.2 points and earning All-WNBA honors, as well as contributing to Team USA's gold medal win at the Olympics. Her struggles in the Finals are now viewed in a different light given the injury, which she has been managing with a wrap and splint. The Liberty celebrated their historic victory while acknowledging the challenges faced by their star player.