


Text with Madeline Kenney as she follows the Liberty — she’s sharing behind-the-scenes info and insights with Sports+ subscribers.
SIGN UP NOWWith under a minute to go in the fourth quarter and the Liberty trailing the Lynx 79-78 on Saturday, Sabrina Ionescu drove into the paint against Alanna Smith.
After her shot was blocked, she didn’t hear what she thought would be an automatic whistle. Ionescu then chased the rebound down and put up another missed shot and still no whistle came.
About 24 seconds later, the four-time All-Star nearly gained possession of a jump ball before being run over by Jessica Shepard in a wild scramble that also ended without a call.
As arguably the biggest star on the court without Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, Ionescu couldn’t get any calls from the officials in the Liberty’s third loss, 86-80, against the Lynx this season.