Sabrina Ionescu has already left her mark in this young season, and Tuesday night she became the fastest player in WNBA history to record a triple-double.
Ionescu had 26 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds to help the Liberty beat the Minnesota Lynx 86-75. The victory gave the Liberty their first 3-0 start in 14 years.
“Obviously getting a triple-double in a win is important,” said Ionescu, who had an NCAA record 26 triple-doubles in college and now has her first one as a pro — and the Liberty’s first ever — in just her sixth career game. “Super proud of my teammates, my coaching staff for helping me get that. …. I’m super grateful. It’s definitely pretty cool [getting the Liberty’s first one].”
The No. 1 pick in the 2020 draft had the 10th triple-double in league history and the first since Chelsea Gray did it in 2019. The Liberty’s young star did it in her second season — the earliest in a career that it had ever been done. Sheryl Swoopes, who had the league’s first triple-double, accomplished the feat in her 59th career game — the previous fastest mark.
Liberty coach Walt Hopkins wasn’t surprised by his young star’s success.
“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,” Hopkins said. “It’s matched by her teammates. We’re getting off to this hot start because they all have that mindset of being hungry.”
“The 3-0 start is a big deal for one, there have been some really great Liberty teams throughout history,” Hopkins said. “That’s pretty special to get out to this. This team getting to see what they are capable of early is a big deal for us. ”
Ionescu has now had a game-winning buzzer beater in her first home game Friday and a triple-double in her second game at Barclays Center to help the Liberty to their best start since 2007, when they won their first five games.