Ionescu hits 3 with 0.4 left, Liberty beat Fever
Sabrina Ionescu made a 3-pointer from the wing with less than a second remaining to give the New York Liberty a 90-87 victory over the Indiana Fever on Friday night in the WNBA s season opener.
The Canadian Press
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NEW YORK Sabrina Ionescu made a 3-pointer from the wing with less than a second remaining to give the New York Liberty a 90-87 victory over the Indiana Fever on Friday night in the WNBA s season opener.
Ionescu, the former Oregon star who only played in three games last year as a rookie before spraining her ankle, got the ball near the wing and hit the deep shot to give the Liberty the lead with 0.4 seconds left. She finished with 25 points, 11 assists and six rebounds in her Barclays Center debut.
Ionescu hits 3 with 0.4 left, Liberty beat Fever 90-87
By DOUG FEINBERGMay 15, 2021 GMT
NEW YORK (AP) Sabrina Ionescu had a dream that she would hit a winning shot in her New York City debut.
That dream became reality when Ionescu made a 3-pointer from the wing with less than a second remaining to give the New York Liberty a 90-87 victory over the Indiana Fever on Friday night in the WNBA’s season opener.
“I 100% had a vision of hitting a game-winner,” said Ionescu, who was wearing mentor Kobe Bryant’s Lakers jersey in the postgame press conference. “We were tied walking into the huddle and I was smiling. It was too good to be true. . I was ready for the moment.”
PREVIEW: Liberty hoping for big improvement in Brooklyn debut
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With training camp coming to a close and the Liberty poised to open the season Friday night against the Indiana Fever, coach Walt Hpokins is still getting his team ready for action . and their Brooklyn debut.
At Media Day Monday, Hopkins provided an update on star guard and former No. 1 overall pick Sabrina Ionescu. Ionescu played a mere two games last season with the Liberty in the WNBA “wubble” due to an ankle injury. Ionescu, in fact, did not play in the Liberty’s closed scrimmage against the Connecticut Sun earlier in camp. Hopkins has said the team is continuing to “ramp-up” the young star who’s expected to handle point guard duties. However, Hopkins also said that she was all but back to normal.
Liberty open training camp Sunday at Barclays Center
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The Liberty’s debut on the main court at Barclays Center is three weeks away May 14 vs. the Indiana Fever but on Sunday Joe Tsai’s team will begin their Brooklyn journey when they open training camp at their home arena.
A total of 19 players are on the camp roster, which is led by second year player Sabrina Ionescu and includes two stars acquired in the off-season, former Defensive Player of the Year Natasha Howard and former Most Improved Player Betnijah Laney. Of the 19, six won’t be on hand for the opening of camp, including Howard, Laney and 2019’s No. 2 pick Asia Durr. Durr was injured much of her first year. Last year, Durr was probably the pro athlete most affected by COVID-19. WNBA roster are limited to 12 players.