Before playing against the Golden State Valkyries on Sunday, June 28, at Chase Center, which the Valkyries won 76-67, the New York Liberty veteran Sabrina Ionescu visited her hometown of Orinda, located within the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, as she received a commendable honor.

Ionescu, who graduated from Miramonte High School in 2016, visited the school on Friday after the school decided to name its gym in her honor in March. SportsCenter also reported the same on Sunday, June 28.

" Sabrina lonescu's high school named a court after her ", SportsCenter Next wrote in a post on X.

The decision was made after a unanimous vote by the Acalanes Union High School District, naming the gym "Sabrina Ionescu Gymnasium." According to MaxPreps, she averaged 18.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game in her three-year career with the school's varsity team.

Ionescu's high school and the club coach, Kelly Sopak, also had a few words for Ionescu.

"She is not a retired legend being honored in hindsight; she is a living, breathing, active athlete in the prime of her career, shaping the sports world in real time," Sopak said. "That makes this moment even more extraordinary."

After graduating from high school, she played for the Oregon Ducks for four years. She also became the only player, male or female, in NCAA history to record 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 1,000 assists. Ionescu also set the record for the most triple-doubles, at 26.

She averaged 18 points, 7.7 assists, and 7.3 rebounds per game in her college career. Not only has she performed astonishingly in her high school and college careers, but she has also been crucial to the Liberty.

How Crucial Has Sabrina Ionescu Been For The Liberty

This year's season marks Ionescu's seventh year in the Liberty, after being the 2020 No. 1 overall pick. She also won the Liberty and her first-ever WNBA title in 2024.

She has appeared in four All-Star games and has also been a part of the All-WNBA second team four times.

This year, she has averaged 9.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game. Keep in mind that she has featured in only eight games so far this season, being sidelined due to back injury.

She also had an ankle injury this pre-season. Recently, Ionescu also opened up about her injury woes this season, as reported by Myles Ehrlich on X.

"I've never missed a month in a season unless it was my rookie year, and I missed the whole season," she said. "Obviously, it's been a learning experience for me, especially early on in the year, where you're trying to find your identity as a team and build chemistry with players you haven't played with, and obviously, a new coach, new system, so all of that is new."

Despite her injuries, she has helped the Liberty to a 12-8 record and to second in the Eastern Conference standings and fifth in the league standings.

With her being active for the future games, the Liberty can take advantage of the veteran point guard to come back to winning ways. The Liberty will play the Las Vegas Aces next on Tuesday, June 30, at Barclays Center.

What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Dhruv Singh

Edited by

Kaamna Dwivedi