By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Sinking 25 out of 27 shots, including 20 in a row, Sabrina Ionescu made history en route to being crowned WNBA’s new three-point contest champion in Las Vegas Friday.
Ionescu, 25, drew a staggering total of 37 points, a new record for three-point contests held in either the WNBA or the NBA.
“I was just focused on making one at a time. I wasn’t sure how many I missed but I knew it wasn’t a lot,” she described the live approach, “I am happy to have won this.”
In the preliminary round of the three-point contest, Ionescu scored 26 points to qualify as the runner-up behind Sami Whitcomb’s 28 points. The ensuing record-breaking outburst was exciting for both the Michelob ULTRA Arena crowd and fellow participants cheering on with shots falling.
Sabrina Ionescu (@sabrina_i20) just set the all-time record for NBA or WNBA with a score of 37 PTS in the FINAL ROUND of the #Starry3PT Contest to be crowned the NEW 3-PT CHAMPION 🏆 | @starrylemonlime pic.twitter.com/YcGy3fDfBq
— WNBA (@WNBA) July 14, 2023
Participating alongside New York Liberty teammate Courtney Vandersloot in the Skills Challenge as the defending champion, she fell narrowly shy of a double. Team Aces consisting of Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young prevailing in the championship round prevented a perfect evening for Ionescu, heading to her second consecutive appearance in the WNBA All-Star Game.
Ionescu was the first overall pick of the 2020 WNBA draft, coming out of a historic NCAA career with Oregon. For the Ducks, she set a record for the most triple-doubles in college with 26 to her name. Combining 2,562 points with 1,091 assists and 1,040 rebounds emerged as the first player with more than 2,000 points, 1.000 assists, and 1,000 rebounds in the NCAA.