Three's (Championship) Firm: Liberty Formally Re-Ups With Core

Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones, and Breanna Stewart are formally set to return to the New York Liberty each now and later.

It is a metropolis so good, they re-upped thrice.

The New York Liberty formally introduced the retaining of its headlining trio on Friday, having re-signed Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones, and Breanna Stewart to multi-year offers. All three performed main roles within the Liberty’s first postseason championship run in 2024 and are set to rep the town for the foreseeable future. 

The announcement got here nearly two hours after two-time All-Star Satou Sabally, a collegiate teammate of Ionescu’s, was launched as the most recent bearer of seafoam at Brooklyn Basketball Coaching Middle.

“Re‑signing Breanna, Jonquel, and Sabrina displays the belief, sacrifice, and shared objective that outline what it means to symbolize the Liberty, this metropolis, and our fanbase,” Liberty basic supervisor Jonathan Kolb stated in a press release. “These three cornerstone gamers selected to put money into one another and within the lengthy‑time period legacy of this group, a uncommon dedication that has the possibility to redefine the usual of excellence throughout basketball.”

Duck? Yeah

The information sarcastically comes on the six-year anniversary of the 2020 WNBA Draft, which noticed the Liberty welcome in Ionescu as the highest pick of Oregon. Ionescu has already turns into the Liberty’s all-time chief in profitable 3-pointers, none extra well-known than the buzzer-beater that defeated the Minnesota Lynx within the penultimate win of the 2024 Finals run. She has averaged 16.7 factors, 5.9 assists, and 5.5 rebounds over her first six excursions.

All that and extra has turned New York into “residence” for the Walnut Creek, Calif. native.

““We’ve constructed one thing particular right here,” Ionescu stated within the assertion. “I’m locked in on bringing one other championship to the town and our followers.”

The purpose guard beforehand supplied a verbal dedication to the seafoam trigger whereas understanding at the US’ Girls’s Nationwide Basketball group’s current coaching camp in Phoenix. Set to enter her seventh season, Ionescu is the Liberty’s longest-tenured energetic participant. 

“Sabrina Ionescu is the one No. 1 decide in our franchise’s historical past, and he or she has had a storybook journey in New York; a spot that embraces its homegrown expertise like no different,” Kolb stated. “Sab has earned all the things she has by means of relentless work, a dedication to repeatedly add to her recreation every year, and a mindset that’s by no means glad.”

“She has embraced this metropolis as her personal, helped set up the Liberty as a vacation spot franchise, delivered a championship, and continues to push for extra on daily basis. We’re pleased with the legacy she is constructing and sit up for the influence she is going to proceed to have on this franchise within the years forward.”

The NY Liberty’s Large 3 are formally BACK. 🙌

Jonquel Jones, Sabrina Ionescu, & Breanna Stewart have re-signed with the Liberty and can return to Brooklyn for the 2026 WNBA season!🗽 pic.twitter.com/jE7sHgpQaY

— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) April 17, 2026

Alongside Got here Stewie (and JJ)

The Ionescu-led endeavor acquired a historic jolt throughout the winter of 2023, which noticed a long-gestating plan culminate with the additions of Jones, Stewart, and Courtney Vandersloot. Whereas Vandersloot returned to Chicago after the magic of 2024, Jones and Stewart are sticking round for a go at one other banner.

Jones etched a long-lasting place in metropolitan championship lore with an MVP output within the Finals, averaging 17.6 factors and seven.6 rebounds within the five-game victory. New York is an astonishingly excellent 34-0 in common season video games, the place Jones posts a double-double and he or she was additionally the MVP of the Liberty’s in-season championship trek in 2023.

“If you commerce for a participant, you at all times hope they really feel an actual sense of belonging, and it has been extremely significant to see New York grow to be a house away from residence for JJ,” Kolb stated of Jones, a local of the Bahamas. “Her versatility, dominance on the glass, management within the locker room, and standing as one of many hardest matchups within the league have been main drivers of our success. JJ’s presence elevates everybody round her and raises our collective ceiling, and we’re excited to proceed constructing together with her as we pursue extra championships.”

Jones’ return was first reported by Madeline Kenney of the New York Publish. She has averaged 13 factors and eight.5 rebounds throughout her metropolitan providers, which adopted six busy years with the Connecticut Solar.

“It was at all times about staying right here in New York, as a result of that is residence,” Jones stated, echoing Ionescu’s ideas of an adopted domicile. “That is my basis, and that is the place I wish to be.”

Rounding out the returnees is Stewart, an Empire State native who expressed a direct want to return after final season ended.

““I’m staying in New York, my household is about up and stable right here,” Stewart acknowledged. “I’m dedicated to the Liberty, and I’m excited to proceed to put money into my teammates, in the neighborhood, and in a franchise that has already given me a lot. I promise to maintain combating to deliver extra championships to the best metropolis on the planet.”

Known as the “personification of successful” by Kolb, Stewart gained her second MVP and third championship ring with New York, whereas additionally reaching three consecutive All-Defensive groups. Stewart has put up 20.8 factors, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks throughout her time in seafoam.

“From the second she arrived in New York, she redefined what successful seems to be like and relentlessly raised the bar throughout our group,” Kolb lauded. “Stewie pushes everybody round her to be higher, holds herself to the best commonplace, and prioritizes successful the suitable manner above all else. She is the embodiment of a celebrity who places the group first on daily basis.”

“Stewie persevering with to play in New York, her residence, is likely one of the most particular storylines in WNBA historical past, and he or she is central to the legacy and championship commonplace we proceed to outline on this metropolis.”

Three, Plus Bee, Fie, and Extra

New York thus continues to restock because it continues to hunt atonement for a disappointing championship protection: the Liberty gained every of its first 9 video games however did not retain that spark over the remainder of the season and would finally place fifth on the WNBA leaderboard. New York dropped a three-game set to the Phoenix Mercury within the opening spherical of the postseason, which led to the dismissal of head coach Sandy Brondello (who has since latched on with the enlargement Toronto Tempo). 

The Liberty has spent the free company fastbreak persevering with to stick to its needs to construct a championship contender each now and later: one other All-Star starter, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, additionally earned a brand new payday, re-upping with Brooklyn on a one-year deal. New York continues to hold worldwide sensation Leonie Fiebich on a rookie contract whereas two-way fan favourite Rebecca Allen can also be reportedly on her manner again. The entire operation is about to be overseen by new head coach Chris DeMarco, who served as a staple of the Golden State Warriors’ championship affairs for over a decade.

“Now we have championship pedigree,” DeMarco lauded after Sabally was launched on Friday. “A few of these challenges of getting over the hump are for groups that have not had gamers which have felt it earlier than. We’re very a lot going to lean into our championship pedigree.”

New York ideas off one other chapter on Could 8 at residence towards the Connecticut Solar.

Geoff Magliocchetti is on X @GeoffJMags