Sabrina Ionescu's 16-point first quarter set the tone for the New York Liberty as they recorded a blowout 99-67 win against the Dallas Wings at College Park Center on Thursday.
The guard led the Liberty with a game-high 20 points, coupled with five rebounds and six assists on 8-18 shooting from the field, and 4-of-10 from deep. Ionescu was relentless as she attacked the rim, shooting lights out in the first quarter as the Liberty led Dallas 25-15. The lead ballooned to 50-32 by halftime.
The Wings had no chance of staging a comeback as the rest of the NY unit found its offensive groove.
Ably assisting Sabrina Ionescu were Breanna Stewart (11 points, four rebounds and four assists), Betnijah Laney-Hamilton (17 points and six rebounds) and Courtney Vandersloot (11 points). The win sees them consolidate their position as the No. 1 seed with the 2024 WNBA regular season inching to a close.
Sabrina Ionescu explains how she isn't a traditional point guard
In an interview with Vanity Fair in July, Sabrina Ionescu explained how she wasn't a conventional point guard in the Liberty ranks. When asked about her friendship with "Point God" Chris Paul and the difference between the duo, Ionescu said:
"I think I’ve changed the narrative a bit; I’m not a traditional point guard. I shoot, I pass, but Chris Paul is a conductor on the floor. He sets everyone up; he calls the play; he knows where everyone needs to go. The game is more positionless now. Steph Curry changed the game in terms of shooting."
This season, Ionescu has been tasked with more than just facilitating plays as she continues to be the team's bonafide 3-point threat. She is averaging 19.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 6.1 assists this regular season, while shooting 40.7% from the field and 33.9% from beyond the arc. She's blown hot and cold from 3-point range this season.
Up next, Sabrina Ionescu's Liberty face the Minnesota Lynx at home, followed by a road trip to D.C. to take on the Washington Mystics. They end their regular season campaign with a home contest versus the Atlanta Dream.