In an exhilarating night of basketball in Indianapolis, Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu clinched her second title in the prestigious WNBA 3-Point Contest on Friday night. This victory capped off a remarkable sweep for the Liberty team after her teammate, Natasha Cloud, secured the title in the Skills Challenge just moments earlier. Despite not having practiced shooting off the rack recently, Ionescu displayed remarkable skill and determination, scoring an impressive 30 points in the final round, a feat only she could feel slightly disappointed about.
After her stunning performance, Ionescu shared her thoughts on the contest, expressing a mix of happiness and self-critique. “I missed a few easy ones there that I definitely could’ve made,” she commented, emphasizing her desire to improve despite tying for the second-highest score ever recorded in the WNBA 3-Point Contest. “So sorry about that. But just happy to be here and obviously happy to have won with my teammate, Natasha Cloud.”
Cloud, who had been encouraging Ionescu to aim for a sweep since they both agreed to participate in the WNBA All-Star Friday night, was thrilled with the outcome. After her victory in the Skills Challenge, she had full confidence that Ionescu would rise to the occasion. “To come out on top and a Liberty biberty night, this is just also refreshing, right?” Cloud said. “We had a hard start to the season. This is the break and the reset for us, and to come out with some wins and this good confidence going into the second part of the season here, but it’s a great night for the community and organization.”
Even as a seasoned veteran, Ionescu admitted to feeling the pressure to perform at a high level. She shared her belief that it’s essential for viewers to see what can be achieved through self-belief, perseverance, and the willingness to face potential failure. Her determination shone through when she heard the signal to start the contest; she focused entirely on her performance, blocking out distractions.
With her 30-point display, Ionescu joins an elite group, being one of only two players to surpass the 30-point mark in the history of the contest. The other player is Allie Quigley, who also scored 30 points during her victory in 2022. Ionescu's near-perfect 37-point performance in 2023 still holds the record for both the NBA and WNBA events. “Thirty is not too bad, so happy with 30 as well,” Ionescu remarked. “Just want to be where my feet are at. Not beat myself up too much about not getting the record. And maybe I’ll get it one day.”
After her win, Ionescu reached out to Stephen Curry to share her victory and trophy, recalling that the four-time NBA champion had bested her in a previous 3-point contest in Indianapolis. Looking ahead, Ionescu remains uncertain about defending her title at next year’s event, citing various factors that could influence her decision.
As for her winnings of $62,575, Ionescu made a heartfelt promise to Sonia Citron, a rookie from the Mystics, before the contest. She pledged to share half of her winnings with Citron, acknowledging the courage it takes for a rookie to participate in such a high-stakes, nationally televised event. “I obviously have to hold up my end of the bargain,” Ionescu said, also revealing that the other half of her prize money would be donated to her SI20 Foundation.
