Sabrina Ionescu made her third season at the top of WNBA records on Saturday during a Liberty road game against Mercury.
After scoring an assist within 30 seconds of warning, Ionescu, the number one player in the 2020 draft, became the first player in WNBA history to score at least 500 points, 200 rebounds, and 200 assists in a single season. The 24-year-old star’s historic dime came on the wide open three-way Crystal Dangerfield to give New York an early 3-2 lead.
Liberty will eventually fall to Mercury, 76-62, to slip to 13-19 on the season.
Although the 2022 campaign was trying to host New York as a whole, Ionesco thrived in a way reminiscent of her legendary college career in Oregon. With career best averages of 17.5 PPG, 7.1 RPG and 6.4 APG, the 5’11” guard entered Saturday as the only player in the league in the top 15 in all three categories.
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Ionescu has showcased her comprehensive skill set all season long on her way to earning her first All-Star nod. She scored 19 points, six boards and six assists at the start along with Captain Aja Wilson in Wilson’s 134-112 victory over Stewart’s team. She finished July becoming the fourth WNBA player to score 16 assists, setting the Liberty franchise record in the process.
Earlier in the month, Ionescu scored the highest hat-trick in league history with 31 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists in Liberty’s victory over Wilson and the Aces. The performance also tied for Ionescu with Candice Parker’s triple-league record. She set two records in three this season after scoring first in Liberty history, then 10th in the league, during the ’21 season.
Ionescu’s outstanding season is a fitting starting point for the former AP Player of the Year after a disappointing start to her WNBA career. Limited to three games in her rookie year with a left ankle injury, she struggled on her comeback last season, averaging 11.7 PPG over .375/.329/.911 division in 30 games played.
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