Who is Sabrina Ionescu? All you need to know about the 2023 WNBA 3-point shooting champion

Sabrina Ionescu is currently the toast of the basketball world after her scorching-hot display in the WNBA All-Star 3-point contest. Ionescu drilled 25 of her 27 shots to tally 37 points and obliterate the field to win the competition.

Seattle Storm guard Sami Whitcomb, who led the elimination with 28 points, settled for second with 24 points. Coming in third was the Dallas Wings’ Arike Ogunbowale, who dropped 11 points.

The night unquestionably belonged to Ionescu who set the record for the highest score in 3-pointers in an All-Star contest, both in the NBA and WNBA. Notably, Golden State Warriors superstar Steph Curry had 31 points in the first round of the 2021 shootout.

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Former Oregon Duck superstar was already a deadly sniper in college

Sabrina Ionescu was the No. 1 pick of the 2020 WNBA Draft after five incredible seasons for the Oregon Ducks. In 142 games, she averaged 18.0 points, 7.7 assists, 7.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals. Ducks fans would not have been surprised by Ionescu’s shooting barrage in the All-Star game.

The Walnut Creek, California native averaged 42.2% from deep in nearly six attempts per game in her four-year stint in college. She was her team’s deadliest shooter and opponents needed to pick their poison when guarding her.

Ionescu wasn’t just a long-range shooter. She was the complete package as she was an elite rebounder and playmaker as well. The Ducks’ best player was a walking triple-double threat on most nights.

Among her accolades were the Nancy Lieberman Award (3x), the John R. Wooden (2x), the Wade Trophy (2x) and the PAC-12 Player of the Year (3x).

It was a no-brainer that the New York Liberty picked her first in the 2020 draft. At the time, Ionescu was one of the best-rated prospects to ever enter the WNBA.

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Sabrina Ionescu struggled with her 3-point shooting earlier in her WNBA career

Sabrina Ionescu shot below 40% from deep just once in four years with the Oregon Ducks. She had 39.2% in her senior year.

In three years with the New York Liberty, she hit 35.0%, 32.5% and 33.3%. Ducks fans couldn’t recognize her from those days of terrorizing opponents in college. Ionescu’s rebounding and playmaking, though, were still elite.

This season, it looks like she’s back to vintage form. In 16 games with the Liberty so far, she’s hitting a sizzling 44.6% of her 3-pointers in nearly eight attempts per game. Ionescu is beginning to blend her staggering efficiency with volume once again.

A closer look at Sabrina Ionescu’s numbers this season will show that her jaw-dropping performance at the WNBA 3-point competition was a long-time coming.

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The New York Liberty could challenge for the WNBA championship this season

Heading into the WNBA All-Star break, the New York Liberty held a 14-4 record, the best in the Eastern Conference. They’re neck and neck with the Connecticut Sun (15-5) for the top seed in their conference.

With Breanna Stewart putting up MVP numbers and Sabrina Ionescu backing her up, they may just represent the East in the WNBA Finals. The road will not be easy but they have arguably the best 1-2 punch in the conference.

The defending champions, the Las Vegas Aces (19-2), could be waiting for them. Las Vegas is stacked and a heavy favorite to repeat last season's championship success.

With Stewart and Ionescu leading the way, the Liberty could end up with their first championship in franchise history.

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