Sabrina Ionescu delivers powerful message to New York Liberty teammates ahead of WNBA Finals: "We know what it takes to lose"

New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu sent a powerful message to her teammates ahead of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals against the Minnesota Lynx on Thursday. With the Liberty chasing their first-ever WNBA title, the team is fully aware of the pain of falling short at the final hurdle.

New York has appeared in five WNBA Finals, including their most recent in 2023, where Sabrina and her squad suffered a heartbreaking 3-1 defeat to the Las Vegas Aces. Having experienced that disappointment, Ionescu urged her teammates to use last year’s loss as motivation to ensure they don’t face the same heartbreak again.

"It's just kind of having that mentality of no let-up," Sabrina said. "We've done what we've needed to do to get here. We know what it takes to lose. We don't know yet what it takes to win.

"I think it's understanding, using that and continuing to be fueled by that feeling that we all felt in the locker room last year, to not feel that again."

Sabrina Ionescu and the New York Liberty got their revenge on the Aces with a commanding 3-1 victory in the semi-finals. Now, in the WNBA Finals, they face a familiar opponent, the team that dashed their hopes of winning the Commissioner's Cup earlier this season. The Lynx defeated the Liberty in the 2024 in-season tournament final.

With Sabrina and Breanna Stewart leading the charge, the Liberty are determined to settle the score with the Lynx. Brimming with confidence, the team believes they are the best in the league and are ready to prove it.

"That fire is burning bright in all of us, and to be able to use that to continue to motivate us and if we do that and control what we can, we're the best team in the league, and no one can beat us," Sabrina added

Sabrina Ionescu has been brilliant in the playoffs

Sabrina Ionescu has been outstanding in the current WNBA playoffs, leading the New York Liberty in scoring with her remarkable 3-point shooting. The three-time All-Star is averaging 20.7 points per game, shooting an impressive 48.9% from the field, including 46.5% from beyond the arc.

Her impact goes beyond scoring, as the former Oregon standout has contributed across the board. Through six playoff games, Sabrina is averaging 5.2 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.5 steals per game, making her a key factor on both ends of the floor for the Liberty.