On Friday Morning, the New York liberty held their staff exit interviews. Former Oregon Duck Sabrina Ionescu talks puking in a trash can, accidents, offseason plans, and her first WNBA Finals expertise.

Written and edited by

Sara Jane Gamelli

No. 20 is a famous person within the making

In the event you did not know, New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu scored a report 37 factors to win the WNBA three-point contest this season. 37 is a report for each the NBA and WNBA, surpassing Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Dirk Nowitzki, amongst a number of different basketball greats.

One of the vital fascinating gamers in ladies’s basketball NCAA historical past, Sabrina Ionescu was an iconic identify on the College of Oregon. The all-time NCAA chief in triple doubles (26), Ionescu has fairly the versatile talent set. Sure, the Oregon Geese misplaced to Baylor within the Ultimate 4 her junior season. Sadly, the world did not get to see Ionescu on the most important stage in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ranked as one of many all-time greats in NCAA basketball, Ionescu totaled 4,693 minutes performed, factors scored, rebounds, and assists. That is second all-time in NCAA basketball historical past, simply behind Cheryl Miller. To indicate how nice she actually was, Sabrina had rankings over Pete Maravich, Doug McDermott, Elena Delle Donne, Tim Duncan, Lisa Leslie, Rebecca Lobo, Steph Curry, Diana Taurasi, Candace Parker, and Shaquille O’Neal. That’s sheer greatness, which has translated into her WNBA profession.

All through her collegiate profession and into the WNBA, Ionescu notably acknowledged she thrives in large moments. Drafted No. 1 total by the New York Liberty in 2020, the guards first season was lower quick on account of an ankle damage. New York completed 12-20 in 2021, and the Liberty conceded to the Chicago Sky within the first spherical in 2022.

Sabrina Ionescu expertise her first WNBA Finals run

Sab all the time is aware of how you can hold issues gentle 😅#wnba #WNBAFinals #LightItUpNYL pic.twitter.com/PTt5k7b5zT

— Sara Jane Gamelli (@SaraJGamelli) October 21, 2023

Having been within the highlight, Ionescu was actually examined within the 2023 Finals in opposition to the Las Vegas Aces. In 4 Finals video games, Sabrina averaged an underwhelming 9.8 factors, 3.8 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per sport. With the Aces sturdy three guard lineup, Ionescu was held to 31.6 % area aim capturing. In her first Finals, the Liberty collapsed in video games one, two, and 4. New York did not have a solution, because the Las Vegas Aces gained their second consecutive WNBA Championship.

The truth is Sabrina Ionescu did admit she does get nervous earlier than video games, and was seen puking right into a trash can in sport 4 of the WNBA Finals. Down 2-1, the Liberty had an opportunity to tie the collection in entrance of over 16,000 followers on the Barclays Heart.

“I do not know, I used to be simply feeling like I used to be about to throw up and was calling for a rubbish can,” mentioned Ionescu. “Perhaps the feelings of the sport, all the things happening, simply wasn’t feeling nice. Good factor had been was a rubbish can proper there and it did not find yourself on the ground.”

The Liberty now know what it takes to win

“There was this strain in understanding that we did not obtain our objectives, and I do not imagine in that, ” Ionescu informed the press. “There’s magnificence within the battle, and you need to perceive what it feels wish to lose to return out on prime. For us, having that silence within the locker room, figuring out what it feels wish to be so shut and never get it, goes to gas us going into this offseason, into this subsequent yr, understanding what it takes to win.”

Not solely was this the primary Finals look for Sabrina, the Liberty have not reached the WNBA Finals since 2002. With such acquisitions of gamers within the offseason, New York ended that 21 yr drought.

2023 was numerous “firsts” for Sabrina Ionescu

“It was numerous firsts for me, it wasn’t simply the finals, it was the semi-finals. There was numerous firsts for me this yr. Understanding that I’m 25 years previous and nonetheless attempting to determine it out. I believe giving myself grace via that course of, but in addition holding myself to a very excessive customary. Now having these experiences beneath my belt, I now perceive what it takes– what it takes to win at dwelling, what it takes to win on the street.”

Though Ionescu and the Liberty did not attain their lofty championship objectives, their season was historic. Ending a franchise finest 32-8, New York gained their first Finals sport since 1999, when Teresa Weatherspoon hit that half-court shot. For a lot of followers, the Liberty introduced hope again to New York, and did so with minimal time to develop as a staff.

“I’ve by no means been on a staff that is been extra dedicated to 1 one other than what it has been like this yr,” continued Ionescu. “We had gamers from throughout come collectively in such a brief period of time and commit to 1 one other. For a staff as new as we had been, with so many alternative function adjustments, to return in and be in a finals, is exceptional.”

The Aces skilled a good quantity of early struggles

3 years in the past at this time the Seattle Storm accomplished the sweep!

Breanna Stewart led with 26 factors because the Storm gained 92-59 over the Aces, claiming the collection 3-0 and profitable the 2020 WNBA championship.

Seattle turned the third franchise with 4 titles (Houston, Minnesota). pic.twitter.com/q7ggk0HUuO

— Throughout the Timeline (@WBBTimeline) October 6, 2023

As I wish to all the time say on the subject of sports activities, “Rome wasn’t in-built a day.” As for the Las Vegas Aces, they be a part of the Los Angeles Sparks and the Houston Comets as the one groups to seize back-to-back Championships. By way of their trek, it hasn’t all the time been straightforward for Vegas. With the group relocating from San Antonio earlier than the 2018 season, the Aces held a number of prime draft picks. Following their relocation, they conceded twice within the Semifinals, together with a defeat within the 2020 Finals to the Seattle Storm.

“Us on the core perceive the dedication that we had to one another to get up to now,” mentioned Ionescu. “I would not have needed to do it with anybody else, and I am so excited that we had the staff that we did. We purchased into each other as a result of it is actually powerful to get up to now. Vegas misplaced many earlier than they had been capable of win. That is a part of the battle, that is a part of determining how you can get on prime is having to lose.”

She was coping with a hip damage via the Finals

Sabrina Ionescu mentioned she damage her hip in Recreation 3 vs. Connecticut

“I needed to get an injection earlier than the sport , simply earlier than these first two Vegas video games, so, not supreme. It simply form of what occurs. I wasn’t actually capable of stroll so timing wasn’t nice.”#wnba

— Sara Jane Gamelli (@SaraJGamelli) October 20, 2023

Making no excuses, Sabrina Ionescu shockingly handled a hip damage. No. 20 initially suffered the ailment in Recreation 4 in opposition to the Connecticut Solar within the Semifinals, by which she was seen icing her hip. Ionescu, a guard who’s extraordinarily cellular off screens and attending to the rim, acknowledged the damage very a lot affected her within the Finals. She made it very clear, it is nonetheless not an excuse for his or her defeat. Ionescu talked about she put “all the things on the market” and did all the things she presumably might to assist her staff.

“Hip damage,” Ionescu acknowledged. “I damage it within the Connecticut sport, sport 4. Yeah, I needed to get an injection earlier than the sport simply to have the ability to play in these first two Vegas video games. Clearly not supreme. It is simply form of what occurs, and there isn’t any excuse, clearly. I wasn’t actually capable of stroll, so timing wasn’t nice. I imagine it taught me one thing, and it is all a part of the plan.”

In an exhilarating three level defeat in sport 4 in opposition to Connecticut, Sabrina had simply 9 factors, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds. In ten playoff video games, together with the finals, the Liberty guard averaged 13.7 factors on 40 % three-point capturing.

Sab appears to raise her sport this offseason

3 PT QU33N IN ACTION 🎯 pic.twitter.com/l2n7r6RJWZ

— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) October 19, 2023

Seeking to elevate and enhance her sport this offseason, Ionescu acknowledged she is going to spend the offseason on the west coast, and won’t be taking part in skilled basketball abroad. No. 20 mentioned she’ll be “busy” with USA Basketball and her camps again in Eugene, Oregon.

“I am excited to proceed to work on my sport,” mentioned the guard. “I imagine final yr, having my first wholesome offseason, having the ability to work on my game–I used to be capable of come out and have the yr that I needed. This yr, I am excited to do this once more, and take my sport to the following stage.”

Expressing she’ll get again within the health club within the subsequent few days, Sabrina Ionescu shot 44.8 % from lengthy vary this season. Improved by over 11 %, Sabrina is all the time attempting to raised herself, and her sport. Having led the league with 128 made threes, she broke Diana Taurasi’s single season report.

“It is again to work, it should final a few days, now I am wanting ahead to the following season.” The Liberty guard feels the offseason shall be essential to enhancing her sport, and can deal with utilizing much less ball screens.

“I have been capable of see the advance I had from the three level line, one season to the following. It is the perfect capturing proportion I’ve had from the three-point line. I wish to take that to the following stage as effectively.”

Cited as a giant “movie watcher,” Sabrina Ionescu and the New York Liberty will probably hold their core gamers for one more Championship run in 2024. No matter this yr’s consequence, Sabrina Ionescu is a star within the making.

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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at Ballislife, and Sports activities Content material Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a deal with the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane at present resides in Connecticut/NYC space along with her Cat and Canine. SJ has her undergraduate diploma from the College of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in enterprise administration.