Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu deserves an apology.
After being ridiculed for a tough capturing efficiency in Sport 5 of the WNBA Finals, ESPN’s Alexa Philippou reported Ionescu performed by way of a “high-grade UCL tear in her proper capturing hand” she suffered in Sport 4 as New York received its first WNBA championship with a 67-62 additional time win over the Lynx.
Per Philippou, “No surgical procedure is required for the time being.” Philippou additionally famous that Ionescu “can be reevaluated in 4 weeks and is anticipated to make a full restoration.”
Ionescu’s worst playoff capturing efficiency of her profession got here within the Sport 5 win, as she shot 1-of-19 (5.3 p.c) and scored 5 factors.
Regardless of her problem scoring, Ionescu crammed the field rating with eight assists, seven rebounds, two steals and a block within the decisive WNBA Finals recreation.
In mild of her UCL tear, Ionesco’s potential to positively influence Sport 5 is exceptional. She ought to be praised for even having the ability to play.
The Liberty chosen Ionsecu with the No. 1 total choose of the 2020 WNBA Draft, and the previous Oregon Duck has emerged as one of many league’s finest shooters within the 5 seasons since.
Her 128 threes in 2023 are essentially the most in a season in WNBA historical past. Ionescu made 107 threes in 2024, which ranks tenth on the all-time single-season listing.
Ionescu is getting into the ultimate 12 months of a two-year extension she signed in 2023. As a Liberty cornerstone, re-signing Ionescu ought to be close to the highest of the entrance workplace’s to-do listing this offseason.
After gritting by way of an harm to assist in giving the franchise its first league title, Ionescu deserves it.
