Sabrina Ionescu shines in Liberty’s championship victory

Sabrina Ionescu Shines in Victory Over Las Vegas Aces

Sabrina Ionescu took a decisive shot, and when the ball sailed over the net, she celebrated with her signature finger-gun gesture. Finally, she seemed to feel back to her old self.

For the past two weeks, Ionescu had been working on her shooting and trying to find her place in a system that had evolved during her absence. Despite her usual aggressiveness, she struggled, often appearing as a shadow of her former superstar self.

During this period, she maintained a patient outlook, reminding herself to stay focused on future opportunities to regain her form.

But on Tuesday night, in front of a lively crowd at Berkeley Center, everything clicked. What a night it turned out to be.

Ionescu hit a clutch 3-pointer with just under 17 seconds remaining. She ended the game with a team-high 26 points, leading the Liberty to a 93-85 victory and clinching this year’s WNBA Commissioner’s Cup against the Aces.

The roar of “SA-BRI-NA” from the fans rang out as the team celebrated on the court. “It felt special,” Ionescu remarked. “I’ve always believed in myself. An injury never dimmed my understanding of who I am and the work it took to get here.”

It was a refreshing sight, seeing Ionescu perform like the player everyone knows her to be—a four-time WNBA All-Star and one of the league’s most prolific shooters. On this night, she truly played her game, and it fit perfectly within the Liberty’s strategy.

Ionescu kicked off the game by scoring the Liberty’s first eight points, helping them jump to an early 10-2 lead. By halftime, she had already amassed a season-high 17 points.

In the second half, she not only found her groove as a scorer but also excelled as a facilitator, racking up all five of her assists in the final quarters.

This season has been a challenging one for Ionescu. After a season-ending injury in her rookie year, she faced her longest absence due to injury, and it was a tough adjustment returning to a well-functioning team.

Injuries plagued Ionescu, starting with a left foot injury during Liberty’s final preseason training that sidelined her for the initial weeks of the season. After making a comeback for one game, back pain forced her to sit out again.

Coach Chris DeMarco initially thought she would settle into her routine, but she ultimately missed three weeks. The green light to return came on June 14, but Ionescu acknowledged it took time to look the part.

Before Tuesday, she had only averaged 9.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.9 assists on a shooting percentage of 36.5 from the field and 29 from beyond the arc.

But Tuesday felt like her comeback. Ionescu made five 3-pointers, grabbed five rebounds, dished out five assists, and finished with a sterling plus-19 in the boxscore.

Aces coach Becky Hammon expressed confidence in Ionescu’s abilities. “I’m never surprised by what she does. She’s just too good. I don’t know if the crowd realizes it, but she thrives in big moments.”