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Sabrina Ionescu is an American professional basketball player widely considered one of the greatest three-point shooters in the WNBA. She is a four-time WNBA All-Star and All-WNBA Team selection, and an Olympic gold medalist with the United States national team. Ionescu played college basketball for the Oregon Ducks, where she twice won the John R. Wooden Award and Wade Trophy, earning consensus national player of the year honors as a senior. But what was she doing before she rose to fame as a basketball player?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 6 December 1997 |
| Place of Birth | California |
| Parents | Romanian immigrants |
| Education | Wagner Ranch Middle School, Miramonte High School, University of Oregon |
| Early Basketball Career | Played for head coach Kelly Sopak and the Cal Stars AAU team |
| College Basketball | Played for the Oregon Ducks |
| Other Activities in College | Enrolled in the School of Journalism and Communication's Advertising and Brand Responsibility Master's Program |
| WNBA Career | New York Liberty, Phantom BC of Unrivaled |
| Awards and Achievements | Four-time WNBA All-Star, Olympic gold medalist, Honda Sports Award, AP Player of the Year, Naismith College Player of the Year, USBWA National Player of the Year, John R. Wooden Award, Wade Trophy, Nancy Lieberman Award |
| Notable Skills | One of the greatest three-point shooters in the WNBA, excellent passing ability, vision, and feel for the ball |
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What You'll Learn
- Sabrina Ionescu played basketball from a young age
- She attended Miramonte High School, where she became one of the country's leading players
- She played college basketball for the Oregon Ducks, where she broke records and led the Ducks to the NCAA Final Four
- She was selected as the number one overall pick by the New York Liberty in the 2020 WNBA draft
- She has since played for the US women's national team, winning a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Games
Sabrina Ionescu played basketball from a young age
Sabrina Ionescu's journey to becoming one of the greatest basketball players began at a very young age. She was born on December 6, 1997, in Walnut Creek, California, to Romanian immigrants, Dan and Liliana Ionescu. Sabrina and her twin brother, Eddy, started playing basketball at the age of three in their family's driveway. By the time they were ten, the twins would go to a nearby park and play for hours, challenging anyone who came their way, even grown men.
Ionescu's passion for basketball continued to grow as she entered middle school. However, her middle school did not have a girls' basketball team, so she occasionally filled in on her twin brother's team. Unfortunately, due to complaints from opposing teams' players and parents, she was eventually banned from the boys' squad. Undeterred, Ionescu took the initiative to lead the effort to form a girls' team, demonstrating her determination and leadership at a young age.
In high school, Ionescu's talent truly began to shine. She attended Miramonte High School from 2012 to 2016, where she became one of the country's leading players. She averaged impressive statistics, including 25.3 points, 8.8 assists, 7.6 rebounds, 4.5 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game during her senior season. Her outstanding performance led Miramonte HS to the CIF open division title game, solidifying her reputation as a rising basketball star.
Ionescu's success continued as she entered college, choosing to play for the University of Oregon Ducks over other powerhouse programs. In her freshman year (2016-2017), she averaged 14.6 points per game and helped the team return to the NCAA basketball tournament after an 11-year absence. Throughout her college career, she broke numerous records and received multiple accolades, including being named the best collegiate female basketball player in the nation by winning the Honda Sports Award in 2020.
Ionescu's hard work and dedication from a young age paid off as she was selected as the number one overall pick in the 2020 WNBA draft by the New York Liberty, marking the beginning of her professional career in the WNBA.
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She attended Miramonte High School, where she became one of the country's leading players
Sabrina Ionescu's journey to becoming a basketball star began at a young age. She started playing basketball with her older brother in the family's driveway when she was just three years old. By the fourth grade, she had honed her ball-handling skills, impressing coach Kelly Sopak during age-group tryouts for Sopak's AAU Cal Stars.
Ionescu's passion for the sport continued to grow, and she attended Miramonte High School from 2012 to 2016. Her middle school did not have a girls' basketball team, so she occasionally filled in on her twin brother's team. However, she was banned from the boys' squad due to complaints. This did not deter her, and she took the lead in forming a girls' team, demonstrating her determination and leadership skills.
During her time at Miramonte High School, Ionescu became one of the country's leading players. Her talent was recognised early on, and she was heavily recruited by top college basketball programs, including the University of Connecticut. However, she chose to pursue her passion at the University of Oregon, where she would make history.
Ionescu's work ethic and dedication to the sport were evident from a young age. She spent countless hours in the gym, not for any specific goal, but simply because she loved the game. This passion drove her to succeed and helped lay the foundation for her remarkable basketball career.
Ionescu's success at Miramonte High School set the stage for her stellar college career and beyond. She became a standout guard, known for her all-around play, and went on to break records and achieve numerous accolades at the University of Oregon. Her hard work and talent ultimately propelled her to the top of the WNBA draft, marking a significant milestone in her basketball journey.
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She played college basketball for the Oregon Ducks, where she broke records and led the Ducks to the NCAA Final Four
Sabrina Ionescu began playing basketball at a young age, dribbling in her family's driveway with her twin brother, Eddy, and their older brother when she was just three years old. By the fourth grade, she had honed her ball-handling skills and stood out for her tireless energy on the court. In middle school, Ionescu played on her brother's team due to the absence of a girls' basketball team. However, she was banned from the boys' squad after complaints from opposing teams and their parents. This setback fueled her determination, and she successfully advocated for the formation of a girls' team.
Ionescu's passion for basketball continued to grow as she entered high school at Miramonte High School in 2012. She quickly established herself as one of the country's leading players, playing on an eighth-grade AAU team while still in the sixth grade. Her talent and dedication to the sport earned her a spot on the University of Oregon Ducks women's basketball team.
At the University of Oregon, Ionescu's skills flourished even more. During her freshman year (2016-2017), she averaged 14.6 points per game and played a pivotal role in bringing the team back to the NCAA basketball tournament after an 11-year absence. Her impact on the court was undeniable, with attendance at Oregon women's games increasing dramatically during her college career.
Ionescu's sophomore season saw an average attendance of over 4,200, a significant jump from the previous year's average of 1,501. Her junior year attracted even larger crowds, with over 7,100 fans filling the stands. However, it was in her senior year that Ionescu truly cemented her legacy. She broke records, becoming the NCAA leader in triple-doubles and the only player in Division I history to achieve over 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 1,000 assists.
Ionescu's exceptional performance on the court led the Ducks to the NCAA Final Four. Her achievements were widely recognized, earning her accolades such as the Honda Sports Award, AP Player of the Year, and the John R. Wooden Award, solidifying her place as one of the greatest collegiate players in history.
After dominating in college basketball, Ionescu went on to be selected as the number one overall pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft by the New York Liberty, marking the beginning of her professional basketball career.
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She was selected as the number one overall pick by the New York Liberty in the 2020 WNBA draft
Sabrina Ionescu, born in California to Romanian immigrants, started playing basketball at the age of three with her twin brother, Eddy, and their older brother in their family driveway. By the fourth grade, she was playing on an eighth-grade AAU team and was recognised for her outstanding energy and ball-handling skills. Ionescu's passion for basketball continued to grow, and she played for hours in the park with her twin, taking on all challengers.
Despite her middle school not having a girls' basketball team, Ionescu occasionally filled in on her brother's team until she was banned due to complaints. She then successfully advocated for the formation of a girls' team, demonstrating her leadership and determination.
Ionescu's talent and dedication to the sport were evident from a young age. She became a local hoops legend in the Bay Area and played for Miramonte High School, where she gained a reputation as one of the country's leading players. Her skills and potential caught the attention of powerhouse college basketball programs, and she chose to attend the University of Oregon, playing for the Oregon Ducks.
During her freshman year in 2016-2017, Ionescu showcased her abilities, averaging 14.6 points per game and helping the Ducks return to the NCAA basketball tournament after an 11-year absence. Her impact on the team and the sport was undeniable, with attendance at Oregon women's games increasing significantly during her college career.
In 2020, Ionescu's hard work culminated in her being selected as the number one overall pick by the New York Liberty in the WNBA draft. This decision was widely anticipated, with ESPN projecting her as a possible top pick in a mock draft the previous year. Ionescu's passing ability, vision, and unique ball-handling skills set her apart and contributed to her selection as the first overall pick.
Following her selection, Ionescu went on to have a successful career with the New York Liberty, helping them win their first WNBA championship and establishing herself as one of the greatest players in the league.
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She has since played for the US women's national team, winning a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Games
Sabrina Ionescu is an American professional basketball player, widely considered one of the greatest three-point shooters in the WNBA. She is a four-time WNBA All-Star and All-WNBA Team selection.
Ionescu first gained widespread recognition during her record-breaking career at the University of Oregon, where she made NCAA history as the only player in Division I men's or women's basketball to finish with more than 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 1,000 assists. She played college basketball for the Oregon Ducks, where she twice won the John R. Wooden Award and Wade Trophy, earning consensus national player of the year honours as a senior. She set the Division I career triple-doubles record and is the Pac-12 Conference's all-time leader in assists.
In 2020, she was selected as the number one overall pick in the WNBA draft by the New York Liberty. Four years later, she helped the Liberty win their first WNBA championship.
In addition to her success in the WNBA, Ionescu has also represented the US women's national team. In 2024, she won a gold medal at the Paris Games, defeating France 67-66 in the final. This was her first Olympic gold medal and the United States' eighth consecutive gold medal in women's basketball. Ionescu's standout moment came in the group stage when she hit a long 3-pointer to secure a 87-74 win over Belgium, shushing the crowd to silence.
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Frequently asked questions
Sabrina Ionescu started playing basketball at the age of three with her older brother in her family's driveway. She attended Miramonte High School from 2012 to 2016, where she became one of the country's leading players. She then played college basketball for the Oregon Ducks, where she twice won the John R. Wooden Award and Wade Trophy.
Sabrina Ionescu earned her diploma in 2019, graduating with a degree in general social science. She completed her degree in just three years. She then enrolled in the School of Journalism and Communication's Advertising and Brand Responsibility Master's Program.
Sabrina Ionescu is the daughter of Romanian immigrants, Dan Ionescu and Liliana (née Blaj) Ionescu, who fled their homeland after the Romanian Revolution in 1990 and settled in California.
Sabrina Ionescu has always been interested in sports and was a natural scorer when she was younger. She and her twin brother, Eddy, would often play basketball in a nearby park, taking on—and defeating—various opponents, including grown men.
