Bubbling in Florida like headache tablets, this point guard is about to give your favourite one fits.
The NBA may be officially back today in Disney World, but the legend is already here.
In her WNBA debut, the New York Liberty’s own first pick in the draft from the University of Oregon, Sabrina Ionescu had 12 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists against Seattle Storm superstar Breanna Stewart and their legend Sue Bird. A nice line like the headlines it made. Now how about more?
Channeling that Mamba Mentality for Kobe and GiGi, the Duck flew with 33 points and 7 in both the rebound and assist categories against the Dallas Wings in her sophomore set.
Still lady Liberty couldn’t clip the wings of Dallas as Texas came away with a 93-80 win over Brooklyn’s new finest.
Ionescu went off like an alarm clock in the first half, as she was chasing down a triple-double like the 26 she had in college. It was a big match-up too, as Duck met Duck for this Oregon reunion on the bill with Dallas’ Satou Sabally (12 points, 4 rebounds). Right behind Sabrina with the number 2 pick.
“She had a heck of a game; she did everything she could to get our offense going,” New York coach Walt Hopkins said in review. “She saw we needed a boost offensively and she went out and created one. The shots fell tonight and she did a great job.”
Job well done indeed. You can expect more nights like this from the Liberty guard like you can next mornings. As she lights it up like Times Square on New Year in this New York, new season.
The next great of the game-in any gender-is a go.
Two threes and two sevens. 33 points, 7 assists, 7 rebounds and one more big one from her first game. After going 4-from-17 from the field and not hitting a single three out of 8 attempts.
Still, even number 8, Kobe Bryant shot air-balls against the Jazz in his rookie campaign. Only to sing five rings later and one last game with 60…against Utah of all teams. Sabrina’s basketball book seems that written like the one under Liberty’s arm. If her playbook keeps dry erasing the court like this, expect a statue.
“I think my shot was a little bit rushed and I didn’t have that much confidence,” Sabrina said of her debut. “Went back to practice and worked on speeding up my shot and getting it to where I want. I think that definitely helped a lot.”
Mentality. Mamba. 11-of-20. 6-for-10 from downtown Orlando.
This WNBA season as Sabrina dribbles alongside the social statement, Black Lives Matter on court is for the justice of Breonna Taylor as we continue to say her name until they arrest the cops. Ionescu under the Mamba mentoring influence is also doing it for the Mambacita who would have one day been with her side-by-side in this league, if it wasn’t for that tragic and fateful January.
This is for you Gianna.
Now with a big game after her big debut, how about a big win for her next game?
Holding the torch for the Liberty, Sabrina Ionescu is well and truly here.
