Sabrina Ionescu made history as a champion of the 2025 WNBA 3-Point Contest.
However, this was beyond her hoop performance. The young lady was the center of attention as she not only talked but also yelled out loud about the necessity of rest during the WNBA season for the players.
On Friday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse during the 3-Point Contest, Ionescu netted 30 points.
Do You Know
The performance equated the all-time second-highest score in the event, matching her effort that had seen her break the record in 2023 and thus securing a second title.
Ionescu Leads Liberty to All-Star Sweep
Ionescu’s victory over the competition was not the only thing that night which will be talked about in relation to the New York Liberty team.
For her part, Natasha Cloud (spelled out correctly as ‘Natasha Cloud’) of the same team, already the winner of the Skills Challenge earlier in the evening, made the Liberty a clean sweeper by winning the All-Star contests.
Cloud, with a clock time only slightly higher than that of Erica Wheeler, who came in second, was the victor in the challenge thanks to the very close final round.
In her post-win interview, Cloud announced that she was going to use the money as a downpayment on a property.
During the event, Ionescu congratulated her teammate who was invited on stage for that reason.
This moment of celebration among two athletes is a clear example of the positive effects winning has on an athlete in that precise scenario: they were sharing it with the public.
A Champion On and Off the Court
Before the beep, Ionescu stated a vow to distribute her portion of the money if she wins.
The promise was kept, and after earning the prize of $62,575, she gave half of her winnings to the Washington Mystics new entrant Sonia Citron and kept the balance to her organization, the SI20 Foundation.
[Existing sentence] This gesture has earned her praise from the players, fans, and the community and they have labeled it one of the signs of her maturation into a leader known and recognized both on the court and off it.
Ionescu Speaks Out for Player Health
Following the All-Star Game on Saturday night, during which Team Clark was defeated by a score of 131–151, Sabrina Ionescu shared her insights on player recovery.
“We get hardly any time off,” she mentioned after the game in an interview. “We travel somewhere, have back-to-back events, and within a few days are playing regular games again”.
She underlined the harsh schedule WNBA athletes are subject to and suggested a longer rest would be better in the next league agreement period. Ionescu’s remarks come at the beginning of negotiations for a new WNBA CBA contract.
Why Her Message Matters
The subject of Ionescu’s comments is the escalating worries that the female basketball players of WNBA are experiencing.
The growth of the games’ popularity has led to many players making demands concerning better travel schedules, alterations in pay, and resting time.
Her wide-eyed victory gave her the chance to be in the national spotlight, and she used that opportunity to shine a light on the challenges all the players face.
It is this combination of Ionescu’s athletic and leadership qualities that continues to distinguish her.
Timeline of Recent Events
- July 18 – Wins the WNBA 3-Point Contest with 30 points.
- July 18 – Donates prize money to rookie and charity.
- July 19 – Participates in All-Star Game.
- July 20 – Calls for a longer All-Star break in press comments.
A Voice for the Future
Ionescu’s subsequent course of action in future labor negotiations of the WNBA is anticipated. As of the moment, representatives of the league have refrained from speaking out publicly.
Nevertheless, the majority of the insiders are of the opinion that her influence is being felt—both in the community and the sport of basketball.
Since the WNBA is considering ways to grow their fan base, what Ionescu is doing could be pivotal in making things work better for the players.
This week, Sabrina Ionescu will be playing in another regular season game as the Liberty attempt to make the playoffs.
With her recent All-Star victory and the growing attention she’s getting nationally, she is starting the second part of the season as one of the league’s most loved players.
Hence, it can be expected that her fans, and, perhaps, the WNBA executives will be waiting for her next statement.
