Sabrina Ionescu issues perfect response after WNBA snub in favour of Caitlin Clark

New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu, who was overlooked for the All-WNBA First Team, responded with a game-winning three-point shot from 28 feet in Game Three of the WNBA Finals. This clutch performance has given the Liberty a 2-1 lead over the Minnesota Lynx, putting them just one victory away from their first-ever championship.

The league announced its All-WNBA first and second team selections just two hours before the game. The first team included Napheesa Collier, A'ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, , and Alyssa Thomas, while the second Team featured Ionescu, Kahleah Copper, Nneka Ogwumike, Arike Ogunbowale, and Jonquel Jones, Ionescu's teammate at Liberty.

Ionescu's omission from the first team, despite her strong season and the Liberty's league-leading 32-8 record, surprised and disappointed many fans. She received only 15 first team votes, leading to her placement on the second team.

Some fans felt that Thomas, who secured 39 first team votes, should not have been chosen over Ionescu. Clark earned 52 votes, another record-breaking achievement in her first year in the league.

Despite an inconsistent shooting night in Game Three, where she made five of 12 from the field and three of eight from beyond the arc, Ionescu delivered when it mattered most. After failing to make a single three-pointer in the first half, she came alive in the final minute, sinking two crucial threes.

Ionescu sealed a thrilling win for the Liberty with a stunning 28-foot three-pointer, sending the crowd into raptures. With only 55 seconds remaining, Ionescu had already given her team the lead from the top of the key, and her subsequent step-back three-pointer broke the tie to secure victory.

She finished with 13 points, six assists, and five rebounds. When questioned about her match-winning shot, Ionescu revealed she was unaware of how far behind the line she was standing.

"I didn't really remember it. I had to look at the video real quickly and see how far I was," she admitted. "In the timeout [head coach] Sandy [Brondello] was like, 'You're going to shoot the shot.' I feel like I was able to get a little separation in range. Get a really good shot to go. I let the shot clock wind down and got the space."

Ionescu's impressive performance was typical of her outstanding 2024 season, during which she averaged 18.2 points per game, ranking ninth in the WNBA for scoring. Her all-around impact on the court was highlighted when she became the first player in WNBA history to record 500+ points, 200+ rebounds, and 200+ assists in a single season.

Ionescu also achieved the league's first 30-point triple-double against the Las Vegas Aces in 2022. If the Liberty wins Game Four on October 18, Ionescu will add WNBA champion to her impressive list of accolades.