Sabrina Ionescu is a professional basketball player from the United States, currently playing for the New York Liberty in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). She is widely regarded as one of the best three-point shooters in history. Ionescu is a three-time WNBA All-Star and has been selected for the All-WNBA Team, in addition to being an Olympic gold medalist with the national team of the United States.
Sabrina Ionescu was born on December 6, 1997, in Walnut Creek, California, United States. During her college career, Sabrina Ionescu played for the Oregon Ducks, where she won the John R. Wooden Award and the Wade Trophy twice, achieving consensus national player of the year status in her senior year. She established the record for career triple-doubles in Division I and holds the title of all-time leader in assists within the Pac-12 Conference. Recognized as one of the most outstanding collegiate players ever, Sabrina Ionescu was the first overall pick in the 2020 WNBA draft by the New York Liberty. In 2023, she set the WNBA record for the most three-pointers in a single season, as well as the record for the WNBA Three-Point Contest. The following year, she guided New York Liberty to their inaugural league championship.
On April 17, 2020, the New York Liberty chose Sabrina Ionescu as the first overall pick in the 2020 WNBA draft. She made her debut with the New York Liberty on July 25. In her second game in the WNBA on July 29 against the Dallas Wings, she achieved 33 points, 7 assists, and 7 rebounds in 34 minutes of play.
On August 1, 2020, Sabrina Ionescu sustained an injury to her left ankle during the second quarter of the game against the Atlanta Dream. The following day, she was diagnosed with a grade 3 sprain and was anticipated to be sidelined for approximately one month during her recovery. Ultimately, she did not participate in any further games for the remainder of her inaugural professional season. She expressed frustration over not being recognized as a rookie in her second season in the WNBA, despite having played two games in her first season.
In the subsequent season, on May 18, 2021, On August 1, 2020, Sabrina Ionescu achieved her inaugural professional triple-double during her sixth career game. She accumulated 26 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds, thereby becoming the quickest player in WNBA history to attain a triple-double. This also marked the first triple-double for the New York Liberty and the tenth in the history of the league.
On July 6, 2022, Sabrina Ionescu recorded 31 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists, establishing the first 30-point triple-double in WNBA history.
Sabrina Ionescu and the New York Liberty progressed to the WNBA Finals in consecutive seasons (2023 and 2024). They faced defeat against the Las Vegas Aces in 2023, with a series score of 3 games to 1. In the following season, they encountered the Minnesota Lynx. During game 3 against Minnesota, Ionescu made the decisive three-pointer, granting New York Liberty a 2–1 series advantage. In the fifth game, despite struggling with her shooting performance, she played a pivotal role by leading the New York Liberty with 8 assists and 7 rebounds, 6 of which were defensive, along with 2 steals and 1 block, ultimately aiding the team in securing its first championship in the franchise’s history.
In June 2024, Sabrina Ionescu was selected for the US women’s Olympic team to participate in the 2024 Summer Olympics in France, joining her New York Liberty teammate, Breanna Stewart. Ionescu and the United States triumphed over France with a score of 67–66 in the final match, securing Ionescu her inaugural Olympic gold medal and marking the United States’ eighth consecutive gold medal.
On December 23, 2024, Sabrina Ionescu was revealed as the last player to fill the roster for the inaugural 2025 season of Unrivaled, the women’s 3-on-3 basketball league established by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart. She signed a contract that “places her in a league of her own” within the organization. Ionescu has joined Phantom BC, reuniting with her former college teammate, Satou Sabally, and completing the club’s final wildcard position.
Sabrina Ionescu photos
