Sabrina Ionescu boldly places herself on basketball Mount Rushmore alongside Michael Jordan and others

Modified Aug 23, 2024 04:14 GMT

When New York Liberty players were asked to name the players they'd put on their personal basketball Mount Rushmore, Sabrina Ionescu didn't hesitate to include herself on her list.

It's common during the offseason for players to be asked about their basketball Mount Rushmores, where they select their top four players.

With confidence, Sabrina Ionescu responded:

"Steph Curry, Michael Jordan, Kobe and me."

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Curry has been a mentor to Sabrina Ionescu, and both are widely recognized as some of the best shooters in their respective leagues.

"I talk to [Curry] regularly," Ionescu shared with DimeMag. "It's always a full-circle moment to grow up watching them on TV and on a court, and then be able to pick up the phone and call them if you need to."

While Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant are often mentioned in debates about the greatest of all time, notable omissions from Ionescu’s list include LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and even Wilt Chamberlain.

Ionescu is currently having the best season of her career, posting career-high averages of 19.9 points, 6.0 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game.

She and Breanna Stewart have propelled the New York Liberty to an impressive 25-4 record. The Liberty are the first and only team this season to secure a spot in the WNBA playoffs.

New York Liberty clinch 25th win despite Sabrina Ionescu’s absence

The New York Liberty are chasing their first championship in franchise history, and their dominance continues even without Sabrina Ionescu in their recent games.

The Liberty defeated the Dallas Wings, 79-71, with four players scoring in double figures despite Ionescu's absence.

Breanna Stewart led the charge with 19 points, seven rebounds, and six assists in another MVP-caliber performance, though she struggled from the field, shooting just 5-for-18.

Kayla Thornton and Leonie Fiebich contributed 16 points each to aid the Liberty's efforts. Thornton also added five rebounds, while Fiebich grabbed seven boards.

Jonquel Jones had a strong showing, recording a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds.

For the Wings, Arike Ogunbowale and Natasha Howard were the top scorers with 19 and 16 points, respectively. Teaira McCowan and Satou Sabally added 14 and 10 markers, respectively.

The Wings have now fallen to a 6-22 record, which places them at the bottom of the standings.

According to ESPN, Sabrina Ionescu is expected to return on Aug. 24. The Liberty’s next game is against the Connecticut Sun tomorrow.

The Liberty have been consistently dominant, winning their last eight games and suffering only one home loss.