What happened: Asked to assess Sabrina Ionescu's return from injury, Chris DeMarco said he felt for her given the physical and mental toll of coming back, but stressed the coaching staff still regards her as one of the best players in the league. Ionescu backed that up on the floor, pouring in 17 points as she worked her way back to form.

Why it matters: Ionescu is the offensive engine her team leans on, so her health and rhythm shape how high its ceiling sits down the stretch. A confident, productive return removes one of the biggest questions hanging over the group and signals she can carry a heavy load again despite fighting through the lingering effects of the injury.

What to watch: Watch whether Ionescu's minutes and scoring hold up over the next few games as she moves further from the injury and the staff eases her back to a full workload.