Sabrina Ionescu: The Next Big Thing in Women’s Basketball
High School
Sabrina Ionescu was born in Walnut Creek, California, in 1997. She started playing basketball at a young age and quickly rose through the ranks. Sabrina Ionescu attended Miramonte High School in Orinda, California. She was a four-year varsity basketball letter winner and led her team to the CIF open division title game in her senior season.
As a freshman, Ionescu averaged 13.8 points, 3.9 assists, and 3.9 steals per game. In her junior year, she averaged 18.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 4.7 steals per game. She was named the McDonald’s All-America game MVP after scoring a record 25 points. Sabrina was also the Gatorade National Player of the Year in 2016.
College-Oregon
Ionescu attended the University of Oregon, where she played for the Ducks from 2016 to 2020. She was a two-time Pac-12 Player of the Year and a two-time USBWA All-American. Sabrina also became the first NCAA player, regardless of gender, to record 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 1,000 assists in their career. She is also the NCAA leader in career triple doubles with 26. Ionescu is a two-time Wade and Wooden Trophy winner.
Sabrina Ionescu earned a bachelor’s degree in general social sciences from the University of Oregon. She also minored in legal studies and earned her degree in 36 months after arriving on campus. She is now pursuing a Master of Advertising and Brand Responsibility degree at the UO School of Journalism and Communication.
.
New York Liberty
Ionescu was drafted first overall by the New York Liberty in the 2020 WNBA Draft. She missed her entire rookie season due to an ankle injury, but she made a big impact in her second season, averaging 17.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game. Sabrina is the 12th WNBA player to have a shoe bearing her name. She is the second woman athlete to receive a signature shoe from Nike in more than a decade. Her Nike signature shoe, dubbed the Sabrina 1, will be released. Sabrina Ionescu is a New York Liberty guard and WNBA star.
Kobe Bryant
Ionescu was mentored by Kobe Bryant during her high school and college days. Bryant had a profound impact on Ionescu’s life and career. He taught her how to be a champion and how to prepare for success. Ionescu became a star basketball player at Oregon and worked on her game with Bryant. She also became friends with Gianna. Ionescu and Bryant shared a dream of elevating women’s basketball to the national level.
WNBA 2023 Season
Ionescu is having a breakout season in 2023. She is averaging 23.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 8.0 assists per game. Sabrina is also leading the Liberty to a playoff berth for the first time in three years. Sabs is one of the most exciting young players in the WNBA. She is a triple-double threat every night and she is capable of taking over games. Sabrina is also a great leader and teammate.
Sabrina Ionescu holds the WNBA single-season 3-point record with 124 3-pointers made in 2023. She broke the previous record of 121 3-pointers set by Diana Taurasi in 2006. Ionescu also holds the WNBA All-Star Game 3-point contest record with 37 points made in 2023.
Ionescu is a prolific 3-point shooter. She shot 45.0% from 3-point range in 2023, which was the 10th-best mark in the WNBA. Sabrina is also a very high-volume 3-point shooter, averaging 7.3 3-point attempts per game in 2023.
Ionescu’s 3-point shooting is a major weapon for her team. She is able to create her own shot and she can also knock down open 3-pointers. Her 3-point shooting makes her a very difficult player to defend.
The Sabrina Ionescu Foundation
SI20 is a non-profit organization founded by WNBA All-Star Sabrina Ionescu in 2023. The foundation’s mission is to equip youth from all backgrounds and skill levels with equitable access to sports. Which will create genuine connections and build stronger communities for life.
The SI20 Foundation focuses on four key areas:
- Relationship building and peer engagement
- Social and emotional intelligence
- Goal setting and leadership
- Cultural inclusion and community impact
The foundation partners with a variety of organizations to provide youth with opportunities to participate in sports and learn important life skills. For example, the SI20 Foundation has partnered with DREAM, a New York-based youth development organization and public charter school network, to offer basketball clinics and other sports programs to DREAM students.
The SI20 Foundation is committed to providing all youth with the opportunity to participate in sports, regardless of their background or financial situation. The foundation believes that sports can teach youth important life skills, such as teamwork, leadership, and perseverance. The SI20 Foundation is also committed to building stronger communities through sports. The foundation believes that sports can bring people together from all walks of life and help to create a more inclusive and equitable society.
