With their star point guard out, the Liberty gutted out their first win in three weeks Sunday.
It’s the same ankle Ionescu sustained a Grade 3 sprain in last year, which forced her to miss all but two-plus games her rookie year.
Hopkins and Ionescu reiterated in training camp that even though her injury last year was severe, she was structurally fully healed from it.
“I think, you know, we could have done more of a minutes restriction, but really it’s she needs to practice, she needs the reps,” Hopkins said.
Those minutes have mostly been put to good use as she recorded her first and the franchise’s first triple-double, as well as three double-doubles.