Sabrina Ionescu

Sabrina Ionescu (born December 6, 1997, Walnut Creek, California, U.S.) is an American professional basketball player who is a standout guard, known for her all-around play. Ionescu first gained widespread recognition during her record-breaking career at the University of Oregon, where she made NCAA history as the only player in Division I men’s or women’s basketball to finish with more than 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 1,000 assists. In 2020 she was selected as the number one overall pick in the WNBA draft by the New York Liberty. Four years later Ionescu helped the Liberty win the franchise’s first WNBA championship. She also was on the U.S. women’s national team that captured a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Games.

Early life

Ionescu is the daughter of Romanian immigrants, Dan Ionescu and Liliana (née Blaj) Ionescu. Her parents and an older brother, Andrei Ionescu, left Romania in 1990 and settled in California. Seven years later Sabrina Ionescu and her twin brother, Eddy Ionescu, were born. At age three, the twins began playing basketball with their older brother in the family’s driveway. When they were 10 years old, Sabrina and Eddy started going to a nearby park, where they would play for hours, taking on—and reportedly defeating—any opponents, including grown men.

Her middle school did not field a girls’ basketball team, so Ionescu would occasionally fill in on her twin brother’s team. However, after complaints from opposing teams’ players and parents, she was banned from the boys’ squad. Ionescu then led a successful effort to form a girls’ team.

Discover the fascinating events that shaped the world, straight from our editors.

SIGN UP

By clicking “Sign Up”, you consent to the Britannica Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

More From Britannica

2024 Paris Olympics: Athletes to watch: Sabrina Ionescu

From 2012 to 2016 Ionescu attended Miramonte High School, where she became one of the country’s leading players. She set several school records, including most points (2,606), while guiding the team to a record of 119–9. In her senior year (2016), Ionescu scored 25 points in the McDonald’s All-American game and was named MVP.

During this time, Ionescu also competed on several national teams. In 2013 she was a member of the U.S. squad of players under 16, and it finished with a 5–0 record and won the gold medal at the FIBA (Fédération Internationale de Basketball) U16 Americas Championship. She later played on the under-17 team that, in 2014, had a record of 7–0 and took the gold at the FIBA U17 Women’s World Cup.

College: University of Oregon

The 5-foot 11-inch (1.8-meter) Ionescu was heavily recruited by powerhouse college basketball programs, including the University of Connecticut. However, she chose to play for the University of Oregon Ducks. After enrolling, she quickly became a star player. During her freshman year (2016–17), she averaged 14.6 points per game and helped the team return to the NCAA basketball tournament after an 11-year absence. The team lost in the regional finals that year and met the same fate again in 2018.

During her junior season (2018–19), Ionescu led the Ducks to a record of 33–5, and the team earned a number two seed in the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive year. The school made its first Final Four appearance in the history of the women’s program, but the Ducks lost to Baylor, the eventual champions. At the end of the season Ionescu received the Wooden Award as the outstanding collegiate women’s player.

Explore Britannica Premium!

The trusted destination for professionals, college students, and lifelong learners.

SUBSCRIBE

Oregon kicked off the 2019–20 season with an exhibition game against the U.S. women’s national team. Scoring 30 points, Ionescu guided the Ducks to a 93–86 win. It was the first time in 20 years that a college program defeated the national team in women’s basketball. Oregon went on to have a stellar season, posting a record of 31–2, and was considered a favorite in the NCAA tournament. However, the event was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ionescu finished her collegiate career with 26 triple-doubles, an NCAA record for both men and women. She also won a second Wooden Award as well as the Naismith Award. In addition, she was named the AP’s women’s player of the year.

WNBA: New York Liberty

In the 2020 WNBA draft, Ionescu was selected by the New York Liberty as the number one overall pick. She made her pro debut later that year, but in the third game she suffered a severe ankle sprain that caused her to miss the remainder of the 2020 season. Ionescu returned the following year and was soon setting records. In what was only her sixth game with the Liberty, she registered the first triple-double (26 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists) in the team’s history and became the youngest WNBA player to achieve the feat. That year New York advanced to the playoffs but lost in the first round.

Ionescu continued to make history in 2022, becoming the first WNBA player to record more than 500 points, 200 rebounds, and 200 assists in a single season; her totals were 626 points, 254 rebounds, and 228 assists. She also recorded the league’s first-ever 30-point triple-double. Despite her strong play, New York finished the regular season with a record of 16–20 and again lost in the first round of the playoffs.

During the 2023 season, Ionescu averaged 17.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game. She also set two WNBA single-season records: highest three-point field goal percentage (44.8) and the most three-pointers (128) in a season. The Liberty finished the year with 32 wins in 40 games and advanced to the finals in the playoffs. There New York lost to the Las Vegas Aces in four games. Ionescu had another strong year in 2024. She averaged 18.2 points and 6.2 assists per game as the Liberty again went 32–8. New York returned to the finals in the postseason, and this time the team was victorious, defeating the Minnesota Lynx in overtime in the deciding game. It was the franchise’s first WNBA title.

International career

Ionescu was a member of the U.S. women’s national team that won a gold medal at the 2022 FIBA World Cup. Two years later she competed at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and she helped the U.S. squad win its eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal.

Ionescu also played 3x3 basketball, which is competed on a half-court and features two teams, each with three players. She was on several teams fielded by Oregon, and in 2019 she helped the national team win a gold medal at the Pan American Games.