Sabrina Ionescu heads to New York as No. 1 WNBA pick

University of Oregon point guard Sabrina Ionescu, the overall top pick of this year’s 2020 WNBA draft, is heading to the New York Liberty. Within the past season, the University of Oregon senior averaged 17.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game. 

According to CBS Sports, Ionescu has been described as “generational talent,” and has “elite shooting and pick-and-roll skills.” 

Originally from Walnut Creek, California, Ionescu was the first player in NCAA history to get more than 2,000 career points, 1,000 career rebounds, and 1,000 career assists, according to the University of Oregon. She’s also the NCAA all-time leader with 26 career triple-doubles. 

Ionescu, who has received six national player of the year awards and more than a dozen other accolades, also made headlines this year after the death of NBA star Kobe Bryant. Ionescu, who helped coach his Mamba Academy team and was close with the former Los Angeles Laker and his daughter Gigi, has described Bryant as her “mentor, idol, inspiration, and close friend.”

Ionescu’s new home in the WNBA was quick to welcome her to Brooklyn on Friday night, as were other New York-based basketball players and fans. Members of the Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks shared messages of support. 

It was also announced on Friday that Ionescu has signed with Nike Basketball. In a congratulatory tweet, the brand said, “You built a program. You broke records. You won awards. You still have unfinished business.” 

The team also picked up University of Connecticut’s Megan Walker, Duke University’s Leaonna Odom and University of Louisville’s Kylee Shook and Jazmine Jones.