Will Sabrina Ionescu miss the start of Unrivaled league after signing unprecedented contract? Liberty star clarifies

New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu, who underwent offseason surgery on her right thumb, has been announced as the final wildcard player for the Unrivaled league. As she continues her recovery, questions have surfaced about whether she will be ready to participate when the league debuts in January.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Ionescu confirmed her readiness to play and expressed her enthusiasm for joining the league.

“I should be cleared and ready to go and be able to be there and be a part of it,” Ionescu told AP. “The first year was something I wanted to experience and have ownership is a big part in that as well.”

According to ESPN's Kendra Andrews, Ionescu’s deal to join Unrivaled is "unprecedented and historic," featuring a salary that "puts her in a category of her own."

Ionescu will play for the Phantom Basketball Club alongside Brittney Griner, Marina Mabrey, Katie Lou Samuelson and Satou Sabally.

“It was a huge decision getting me to play or not,” Ionescu told AP. “I weighed out all my options and decided to do what’s best for me and my career. Being able to take part in a league that is the first of its kind with a historic deal and be on the ownership side of it is important for me.”

“I’m excited. Obviously it’s a great opportunity to be able to play and continue to refine my game in the offseason,” she said. “It’s a great opportunity to compete against the best players in the league that are now in Unrivaled.”

Sabrina Ionescu says Unrivaled will accommodate her schedule

As one of the WNBA’s top stars, Sabrina Ionescu is expected to appear at the NBA All-Star Weekend, an event she attended last year for a memorable shootout against Steph Curry.

In her AP interview, Ionescu explained that Unrivaled has agreed to accommodate her preexisting commitments, including the NBA All-Star Weekend on Feb. 16, which falls during the league’s season.

“I have certain dates that I have to be gone for. They were very accommodating with things I already accepted and have to be gone for before I committed to the league,” Ionescu said.

Sabrina Ionescu is the 36th and final player to join the league, which was co-founded by her Liberty teammate Breanna Stewart and Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier.

She completes the player pool just ahead of Unrivaled’s inaugural season, which tips off on Jan. 17 in Miami.