Sabrina Ionescu, star player of Liberty, revisits the site of her impressive feats in last year's WNBA Finals
Sabrina Ionescu's Iconic Shot and the New York Liberty's Journey
In the world of the WNBA, Sabrina Ionescu has become a beacon of excellence for the New York Liberty. Her career with the team has been marked by significant milestones and consistent performances that have propelled the Liberty to new heights.
One of the most defining moments in Ionescu's career came in the 2024 WNBA Finals, where she made a game-winning shot that secured the championship for the Liberty. This pivotal basket, made 28 feet from the basket, not only marked a defining moment in her career but also in the franchise's history.
Prior to this iconic shot, Ionescu had already made a name for herself with the Liberty. In her sixth game with the team, she achieved the first triple-double in New York Liberty history, with 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists. Her consistent high scoring, playmaking, and rebounding performances have been instrumental in the team's success.
During a July 2025 stretch, Ionescu averaged 21.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game, leading the team to a 6-4 record. Her game performances have been marked by impressive scoring, assists, and defensive statistics, leading Liberty rallies and contributing to multiple winning streaks.
Ionescu's leadership and all-around skill have been central to the Liberty’s rise to prominence in recent seasons. Her most recent visit to Target Center, the site of the 2024 WNBA Finals, was a poignant reminder of the pivotal role she played in the team's first-ever championship win.
On Wednesday, Ionescu returned to the spot where she made the game-winning shot, recreating the moment during her morning shootaround. Despite feeling ill, teammate Natasha Cloud played in the game against the Lynx, scoring 12 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals in 32 minutes. However, the Liberty lost the game following their return to Target Center, 100-93.
The shot may have saved the series for the Liberty, and the team's journey to the championship was not without its challenges. Prior to the game against the Wings on Monday, Cloud had fallen ill, and the team's first trip back to Target Center since the Finals was a bittersweet reminder of the hard-fought victory.
Fans at the Liberty-Lynx game held up "Pay the Players" signs to show their solidarity with the Women's National Basketball Players' Association. Isabelle Harrison, a player advocate, stated that the fans want the players to be compensated and that the players will continue to fight for a fair share of the pie in negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement.
As the Liberty continue their journey, Ionescu's iconic shot serves as a reminder of the team's resilience and the heights they can reach when they band together. The future looks bright for the New York Liberty, and with Ionescu at the helm, they are poised to continue making history.
In the realm of sports, Sabrina Ionescu's game-winning shot in the 2024 WNBA Finals, making her an icon in the New York Liberty, was emphatic evidence of her basketball prowess. Her leadership and skills have been instrumental in the team's success, with moments such as her historic first triple-double in the franchise's history further cementing her stature. As the WNBA season progresses, the business aspect also comes into play, as fans amplify their calls for fair compensation for the players, underscoring the complexities of the sports game dynamics.
