Sabrina Ionescu rediscovered her stellar form, scoring a team-high 26 points to lead the New York Liberty to a 93-85 victory over the Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA Commissioner's Cup championship on Tuesday night.
Ionescu, who had been working through a shooting slump and adjusting to a new team dynamic after an offseason injury, delivered a performance that evoked her usual superstar caliber. She opened the scoring for the Liberty with their first eight points and had amassed 17 points by halftime. Her offensive output was complemented by five assists and five rebounds, and she recorded a team-best plus-19 rating.
Her decisive moment came with 16.8 seconds remaining when she drained a clutch three-pointer to seal the win. The home crowd at Barclays Center erupted with chants of "SA-BRI-NA" during the team's celebration.
"It was special," Ionescu said of her performance. "I’ve always continued to have that belief in myself… an injury is not gonna diminish my understanding of who I am and the work that I’ve put in to get where I am today."
Ionescu's journey back to form was complicated by a left foot injury sustained in the Liberty's final preseason game, which sidelined her for the first two weeks of the season. An ensuing bout of back soreness further delayed her full return. In the seven games prior to the championship, she averaged 9.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.9 assists, shooting 36.5% from the field and 29% from three-point range.
Liberty coach Chris DeMarco noted that while Ionescu felt physically ready, her game hadn't yet reflected that until Tuesday. Aces coach Becky Hammon acknowledged Ionescu's ability to perform in crucial moments, stating, "Her game never takes me by surprise. She’s too good. And by the way, I don’t know if anybody’s noticing this crowd, she likes big moments and big shots."
Ionescu's return to form was critical for the Liberty as they secured the Commissioner's Cup title, with her performance on Tuesday serving as a reminder of her status as one of the league's premier sharpshooters.