After what Sabrina Ionescu accomplished at Oregon during her college career, what the New York Liberty’s young star did Tuesday shouldn’t come as much of a surprise.
The 23-year-old became the youngest player in WNBA history to record a triple-double, producing 26 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds as she helped propel New York to their first 3-0 start in 14 years. Her triple-double was the first in franchise history, and Ionescu recorded just the 10th triple-double in WNBA history.
“Obviously getting a triple-double in a win is what’s important,” Ionescu said (via CBS Sports). “If I got that in a loss it wouldn’t mean anything to me. Super proud of my teammates for helping me get that, my coaching staff. Those things never are easy, and they never come without help from everyone else on the court. So I’m just super thankful to have the teammates around me and be surrounded by such great players. But it’s definitely pretty cool.”
Ionescu comes with a history of those well-rounded displays. She recorded 26 triple-doubles for the Ducks, becoming the all-time leader in that category in men’s and women’s college basketball. She’s the only player in NCAA history to post 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 1,000 assists in her career.
That set her up to become the top overall pick in the 2020 WNBA draft, but her career hit a snag with an early ankle injury that cut her first season short after three games. Back healthy this season, Ionescu has gotten off to a strong start in 2021, averaging 21 points, nine assists and seven rebounds a game.
She opened the season with a game-winning 3-pointer, and Ionescu shot 57.1% from three-point range in Tuesday’s win. Ionescu secured the triple-double Tuesday night in the fourth quarter, pulling in a defensive rebound before knocking down a triple on the other end of the floor.
“She puts the work in for these moments. Does the work in the offseason, so she’s prepared now. She’s got a special mentality in her belief in herself, her teammates and her desire to win,’’ Liberty coach Walt Hopkins said (via ESPN). “It’s matched by her teammates. We’re getting off to this hot start because they all have that mindset of being hungry.”
Sheryl Swoopes is the only player to record multiple triple-doubles in her WNBA career, with two. Ionescu, just six games into her career, appears primed to match and surpass that total.
• Andy Kostka can be reached at akostka@washingtontimes.com.
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