Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (back) out again vs. Fever

Star guard Sabrina Ionescu is experiencing persistent back soreness and will not play in the New York Liberty's game against the Indiana Fever on Saturday night.

Ionescu, who had been listing as questionable for Saturday, has played in just one of the 10 games for New York (6-4) this season. She missed the first five games due to a preseason ankle injury, then played against the Dallas Wings on May 24. In that game, she scored 11 points with seven assists and five rebounds.

After the game, her back started to bother her and she has been sidelined since.

"She wants to be out there, and she's trying her best, and she's getting better," Liberty Coach Chris DeMarco told ESPN at shootaround Saturday morning. "Hopefully we'll have her on a road trip."

Ionescu practiced Friday and reported that her back was sore afterward, DeMarco said. The practice was the first with all of New York's players participating this season.

Ionescu said that her back is "getting better, day-by-day," and that she had hoped to play Saturday.

"See how I feel, taking every day in stride and see how it responds to what I do," Ionescu said. "It is what it is. I haven't really tried to think too much into it. It's still early. Want to be out there competing. It's part of sports. Deal with it as it comes."

Filling in for Ionescu, rookie guard Pauline Astier has averaged 11.8 points, 3.7 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game.

--Field Level Media