Liberty-Wings Preview

It is take two for No. 1 overall pick Sabrina Ionescu, who again tries to notch her first WNBA victory with the New York Liberty on Wednesday when they face the Dallas Wings.

Ionescu, projected to be a star after a standout career at Oregon and considered one of the best prospects in league history, was given a rude welcome to the pros by one of the league's standard-bearers, the Seattle Storm. The 2018 WNBA champs limited Ionescu to 12 points on 4-of-17 shooting and six rebounds and four assists as New York lost its season opener 87-71.

"I think the traps are something I'm definitely used to, but obviously though at this level the players are a lot stronger, a lot faster, a lot smarter, more athletic," Ionescu noted post-game after going 0 for 8 from 3-point range. "I think I was definitely a little bit sped up on that but happy that it happened in the first game and now I'm able to watch film and learn and make that next pass and attack that."

What is concerning for the Liberty, who sport seven rookies on their roster, is that one of those non-rookies -- point guard Kia Nurse -- may not be available for this game. Nurse, who suffered a sprained ankle in the first half and did not return, is listed as day-to-day. Leaonna Odom, one of those seven rookies who had nine points and three rebounds in her WNBA debut, likely would start if Nurse is unable to play.

Dallas knows all about standout rookies considering it has 2019 runner-up Arike Ogunbowale. She and Allisha Gray scored 19 points apiece, but it was not enough for the Wings as they opened their season with a 105-95 loss to Atlanta on Sunday.

Isabelle Harrison added 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Wings, but 13 3-pointers were not enough to offset a porous defense that allowed the Dream to shoot 54.8 percent and amass a 30-14 edge at the foul line.

Ionescu's collegiate teammate Satou Saballay, the No. 2 overall pick, had 11 points in her WNBA debut and left Wings coach Brian Agler with an overall positive impression.

"I thought Satou started the game a little passive, which is not abnormal for rookies," Agler told the Dallas Morning News. "As the game went on, especially in the second half, she upped her intensity."

Dallas won the final two games of last year's series, including an 83-77 victory in the most recent matchup as Gray had 22 points and Ogunbowale added 21. Ogunbowale averaged 17.7 points in the three games.