Sabrina Ionescu is looking to lead the New York Liberty to a second consecutive championship in 2025. On Friday night, the Liberty guard led her team to a big 89-76 win against the Phoenix Mercury. Ionescu scored 29 points to go along with eight assists, five rebounds, one steal and one block. She did turn the ball over five times, but it was an impressive performance nonetheless. According to StatMuse, only Ionescu's teammate, Breanna Stewart, has more 25/5/5 games over the past 10 seasons.
The Mercury have played well this year, but the Liberty earned a convincing win on Friday. Ionescu, 27, is a four-time All-Star who entered the contest averaging over 18 points and four rebounds per contest while recording just under six assists per game. Her shot has been efficient at times, but Ionescu is unquestionably one of the best players in the WNBA.
"It's a 40-minute game," head coach Sandy Brondello said after the game, via Myles Ehrlich. "We didn't start the way we wanted to, but made some adjustments to our schemes. We played with more urgency, and then started making shots. I put the ball a fair bit in Sabrina's hands... and it was very successful."
Ionescu felt that the third quarter was the turning point against the Mercury, via Ehrlich as well.
"We came out a little sloppy," Ionescu said. "That was the moment we got into that TO, we were like, 'we can't do this, we can't play this game.' I'd rushed some shots, and we knew it was a regroup moment... we were getting good looks, just not hitting shots."
Of course, Stewart is a consistent MVP candidate. The fact that Ionescu accomplished a feat similar to Stewart is impressive. The duo is set to lead New York to another deep postseason run. It would not surprise anyone to see the Liberty back in the WNBA Finals.
At 17-6, the Liberty trail the Minnesota Lynx for the best record in the WNBA. Minnesota holds a 22-4 record. The Lynx also emerged victorious on Friday, defeating the Las Vegas Aces 109-78. Minnesota and New York went head-to-head in the 2024 WNBA Finals, and right now they seem to be on a similar path.
Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart and the Liberty will play the secnd of a back-to-back at home on Saturday night against the Los Angeles Sparks at 7 PM EST. New York will then head on a four-game road trip.