I was happy that she pushed back. [39] However, Ionescu announced in an open letter published in The Players' Tribune on April 6, 2019, the day after Oregon's loss to Baylor in the Final Four and four days before the draft, that she would return to Oregon for her senior season. In her career, Ionescu was the first player in NCAA history (male or female) to score 2,000 career points and have 1,000 career rebounds and 1,000 career assists. She led the Pac-12 in scoring (19.2) and assists, dishing out 7.8 assists per game which was fifth-most in the country. We didn't really talk about the game for a little while. Being able to grow up, have the same friends, play the same sports and do everything together is really fun. There weren't many girls' programs for her as she was growing up, but she found a way to continue to improve and pushed herself to be the best. They had heard the language at home throughout their lives. Ionescu's role includes assisting with the development of student . Sabrina's father, Dan, didn't know which way he'd be heading the day he picked up his daughter to drive her to college. [50], * 2020 NCAA tournament canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic, Ionescu is a Christian. She's not the biggest, quickest, fastest, strongest. Most Popular #24328. Sabrina Ionescu's resume is long and exceptional: Two-time Pac-12 Conference player of the year; back-to-back First-Team All-American; National Player of the Year candidate; NCAA career triple-double record holder (18); probable No. That's what I admire most about her. Sabrina is a basketball player now engaged with the former American football player Hroniss Grasu. 1 pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft to the Liberty. And then Kelly didn't say anything, he just handed me the papers with the stats on it and continued to have his postgame speech. Sabrina Ionescu is an American personality who is a professional basketball player and is committed to the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) playing for the New York Liberty. But if I did, they were only tears of joy. With her darting moves, pinpoint passes and. She has her eye on a matchup with Diana Taurasi, who is widely considered the league's GOAT. They used to play football and basketball for college-level games. Things were just happening too quickly for them and for her. [16] Ionescu became NCAA women's all-time leader in triple-doubles,[17] trailing only former BYU men's player Kyle Collinsworth (with 12) among all NCAA players.[18]. [Laughs], Seattle or Eugene? Every time I stood up, everyone in unison would be like, "basketball." I don't think his mom really appreciated that. After all, Ive never met another Romanian basketball player on the floor., twin brother Eddy Ionescu gave us tv gold last night with a Romanian breakdown of the game of his sis @sabrina_i20 @OregonWBB #WNCAA pic.twitter.com/YFuCJ2BUDo, Many NBA Players Supported the WNBA in a Big Way. She absolutely killed it that game. Cinematography by Monica May; Movement Coaching by Duray Thirdgill; Prop Styling by Dan Jesperson; Production by Amy Ground; Hair & Makeup by Celena Rubin. We were always so competitive, and I think it's 'cause we were the same age. It allowed me to push her more than I could push any other player to be great. Related Accounts. Ionescu was born to Romanian-American parents in Walnut Creek, California. In the postgame interview, she calls out ESPN: "It probably still won't get recognized because ESPN never recognizes women's sports. Very indecisive. I felt like I completely let the team down. When I was younger, I was always playing with the guys, and I had to find ways to get the ball, because they never wanted to pass to me. Kind of like describing Sue [Bird]. Sabrina: We struggled, and I think we didn't handle adversity very well. After the NCAA made the extraordinary decision last week to cancel its tournaments, The ultimate guide to Oregon women's basketball star Sabrina Ionescu, Women coaches discuss their ascension in the men's league, Ionescu is women's college basketball's player of the year, NCAA to discuss granting athletes eligibility relief, Why Megan Rapinoe's brother Brian is her greatest heartbreak, and hope, Whatever happened to Villanova basketball star Shelly Pennefather? Ionescu actually has a twin brother named Eddy who also plays basketball. And so I had to learn how to use the ball screens and all the frustration that comes with that. Sabrina: What we've been building these last couple of years goes to show women's basketball is valued. Her two brothers were a big help in developing her basketball skills. I'm kind of a procrastinator, so I let it get to like an hour before I had to decide. Dan: Here's one thing that I've learned through the years with Sabrina. Eddy is also a basketball player. Speaking of which. People were crying and just so sad. One of the most electric basketball players in the world (man or woman) is the WNBA star, Sabrina Ionescu. Edward has also developed . According to Ducks coach Kelly Graves, in 2019 Ionescu had "a chance to be a Marcus Mariota, that level of player and an esteemed Oregon Duck when it's all said and done." Sopak: The car was packed and they didn't know which direction they were going. Later, he was transferred to Oregon Ducks and played for them like his sister. And she usually delivers. It was tough being there and it was tough having to play a top-five matchup right after that. Whether it was our chores, whether it was our homework, whether it was eating dinner, racing to whoever can get in bed first. She finished at Miramonte High School in Orinda, California. There'd be fights. His sister, Sabrina, is a Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) professional). Dan: She would start, a minute here, minute there when a kid was not there. He first played college basketball at City College of San Francisco, per Oregons team site. I feel like that's definitely something that she'll leave behind, that's going to motivate the younger generation. Like [laughs], why's she yelling at open gym? Sabrina Ionescu. I appreciated it. Her name hadn't yet become synonymous with the term "triple-double." He'd come to visit, but not having him always to talk to in person was a lot different for me. They own and run the "Greco's New York Pizzeria," a pizza restaurant located on Hollywood Boulevard. Oregon's Sabrina Ionescu (20) celebrates after a game against Mississippi State during the 2019 NCAA women's tournament. Despite having only played for three seasons at this point, Ionescu was eligible for the 2019 WNBA draft by age. As a fresher in high school, she recorded an average . Seven years later, Ionescu and her twin brother, Eddy, were born. Kobe was helping her with that because he saw it in her. Sabrina: Obviously that was tough. That same day, Ionescu flies to the Bay Area for a game against Stanford. She played college basketball for the Oregon Ducks. Sabrina Ionescu- Professional Life, Career, Awards At first he was a little skeptical. Also, people are curious to know more about her partner, parents and family. Stanley, Read More Stanley Wilson Jr Wife Was He Married? If he won, we'd play again. Our dad was the outlet pass, so he didn't stop it for anything. 213,394 likes. Ionescu won almost all the possible National Player of the Year awards, including the John R. Wooden Award, Associated Press College Basketball Player of the Year, USBWA National Player of the Year, Naismith College Player of the Year, ESPY for Top Female College Athlete and ESPN.com National Player of the Year. Just like he saw it in me. Sabrina Ionescu and brother Eddy are born on Dec. 6, 1997, to Romanian immigrant parents in Walnut Creek, California. They just cheered for the team and cheered for Sabrina. Meta. After starring for the Oregon Ducks womens college basketball team, Ionescu has since joined the New York Liberty. Everyone's watching us. So I figured that if I could rebound, I would be able to get the ball myself. Basketball fans are more curious to know is Sabrina Ionescu gay or not. 3 Stanford", "Sabrina Ionescu's career night leads Oregon past Stanford", "Ionescu Breaks Assist Record in Civil War Win, Ducks 76 Beavers 64", "Oregon Ducks women: Ionescu and Hebard reach milestones in lopsided victory", "Gary Payton congratulates Sabrina Ionescu on breaking his Pac-12 all-time assists record", "Sabrina Ionescu Adds Career Milestone in Win vs. UCLA", "Oregon's Sabrina Ionescu Named Honda Sport Award Winner for Basketball", "WNBA mock draft 2019: Predicting all three rounds", "Liberty Select Sabrina Ionescu No. And so I was like, "All right, well this is my chance, I'm going to say something.". We just started in a park, you know? Case UpdateContinue, Stanley Wilson Jr Wife does not exist, as the player was single till his death. Her mother is Liliana Blaj and she has a twin brother Edward ("Eddy"). The WNBA. Sabrina: Work ethic and dedication, I learned that from my parents. Sabrina is known for her exceptional skills and accomplishments in college and professional basketball. All Ionescu: The ultimate guide to Oregon women's basketball star Sabrina Ionescu, Trailblazers: Women coaches discuss their ascension in the men's league, POY: Ionescu is women's college basketball's player of the year, Athletes' futures: NCAA to discuss granting athletes eligibility relief. She is clearly in a happy relationship with Grasu and is excited to take the next step in their journey together. Here, the superstar and the people who know her best reveal the story behind the legend, the fights and flourishes that have come to define the game's most electric player. Hebard: When they came out with the draft, I texted her. There, she achieved an impressive milestone, becoming the first college basketball player to collect 1,000 assists, 2,000 points, and 1,000 rebounds in a career. 1 seed in the Pac-12 Women's Basketball Tournament. The card a 2020 Panini. She has a twin brother named Eddy who played basketball at City College of San Francisco. She was an Oregon Ducks basketball player in college. Sabrina's ancestry is Romanian-Caucasian and has a twin brother, Edward. They would compete against older men at the basketball court to win extra . 336 following. She becomes friends with Kobe, who mentors her, and with his daughter Gianna and her Mamba teammates. Sabrina Ionescu College/Country: Oregon Position: Guard Height: 5'11 Birthdate: December 6, 1997 Birthplace: Walnut Creek, Calif. High School: Miramonte HS / Walnut Creek, Calif. Career. We were the best shooting team in the country. I figured out ways to write poems about basketball the entire year. I went right back at him. She is the daughter of Romanian-American parents. Source: Forbes Be Unique. Verified. Seven years later, Ionescu and her twin brother, Eddy, were born. Graves: I think Sabrina in New York, if that's the way it works out, is a match made in heaven. Ionescu also recorded her eighth triple-double of the season, tying her own NCAA single-season record from last season. 1 By New York Liberty In WNBA Draft", "Sabrina Ionescu's sneaky way of seeing best friend Ruthy Hebard in the 'wubble', https://wikiodin.com/who-is-sabrina-ionescu-boyfriend-5-things-to-know-about-hroniss-grasu/, Naismith Women's College Player of the Year, USBWA Women's National Player of the Year Award, John R. Wooden Women's Player of the Year Award, Associated Press Women's College Basketball Player of the Year, USBWA National Freshman of the Year Award, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sabrina_Ionescu&oldid=1142714116, All-American college women's basketball players, Basketball players at the 2019 Pan American Games, Pan American Games 3x3 basketball players, Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States, Pan American Games medalists in basketball, Sportspeople from Walnut Creek, California, Women's National Basketball Association All-Stars, Women's National Basketball Association first-overall draft picks, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from May 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Only NCAA player with career 2,000 points, 1,000 assists and 1,000 rebounds (in women's and men's), This page was last edited on 4 March 2023, at 00:08. I know on one Instagram post she kind of talked about, you know, "I let my basketball do the cooking," or whatever the case. Sabrina was born in Walnut Creek, California, on December 6, 1997. 1 pick in the 2020 draft. She debuted for Oregon in November 2016, scoring 11 points in a win over Lamar. She set an NCAA triple-double record instead", "Sabrina Ionescu, 'The Franchise,' accepts ALL-USA Girls Basketball Player of the Year trophy", "Miramonte High School standout named Gatorade California Girls Basketball Player of the Year", "ESPN Recruiting Profile of Sabrina Ionescu", "Oregon Ducks' Sabrina Ionescu is ESPNW's player of the week", "Ducks' Sabrina Ionescu, Ruthy Hebard among position award winners", "Oregon's Sabrina Ionescu, Oregon State's Marie Gulich named ESPN All-Americans", "Oregon vs. Alaska Fairbanks Game Summary November 6, 2018 ESPN", "Buffalo vs. Oregon Game Summary November 18, 2018 ESPN", "espnW on Twitter: "Oregon's @sabrina_i20 messed around and got her 13th career triple-double. Oregon Ducks point guard Sabrina Ionescu sits down with Maria Taylor and opens up about the strong bond she has with her twin brother Eddy Ionescu and her pa. She then joined the City College of San Francisco but later transferred to the University of Oregon. BROOKLYN, NY - JULY 23: Sabrina Ionescu #20 of the New York Liberty dribbles the ball during the game against the Chicago Sky on July 23, 2022 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Also Read:Tyrese Haliburton Sister, Who Are His Siblings? More importantly, he didn't just show up in my life and leave -- he stayed. Earlier that day, she had been a featured speaker at the memorial service for Kobe Bryant, who had become a close personal friend within the previous two years, flying from Los Angeles to the Bay Area immediately after her speech.[2]. His vision for others is always bigger than that for themselves. During that time, her father's wife was Liliana Blaj, who was living apart from her only husband. He has an older brother named Nico, who was a placekicker for Washington State from 2008 to 2010. Too nervous to sleep. 2 Duke en route to an improbable Elite Eight matchup against top-seeded UConn. Ramona Shelburne on why playing for the Clippers is deeper than basketball for Paul George. | Julio Aguilar/Getty Images Ionescu actually has a twin brother named Eddy who also plays basketball. Find out about youtube star Sabrina Ionescu: Age, What she did before fame, her family life Latest information about her on social networks Fun facts: before fame, family life, popularity rankings, and more Sabrina-Ionescu with her team meat. While everyone knows that Ionescu is a baller and can compete with the best of the best on the basketball court, some might not know that she actually has a twin brother who also plays basketball. [41], On August 1, 2020, Ionescu injured her left ankle in the second quarter against the Atlanta Dream. He just eats, sleeps, loves everything about basketball, which is literally the same thing with her. Draft", "07/29/20: New York Liberty @ Dallas Wings", "Your Day in Women's Basketball, October 12: Sabrina Ionescu is ready to ball", "New York Liberty's Sabrina Ionescu leaves game after ankle injury", "What Sabrina Ionescu's injury means for her rookie season and the New York Liberty", "Ionescu Records Liberty's First-Ever Triple Double", "Liberty's Sabrina Ionescu records first 30-point triple-double in WNBA history in win over Aces", "Oregon Ducks Take USA Basketball Women's 3x3 National Championship Title", "Sabrina Ionescu leads Oregon to USA 3-on-3 national championship", "Oregon players to represent U.S. in FIBA 3x3 World Cup", "Don't call them kids they just swept their pool at the FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2018", "Oregon's Sabrina Ionescu wins PAC-12 Player of the Year while playing for Christ", "Sabrina Ionescu: 5 Facts About Superstar Picked No. [7] However, she had difficulty making a college choice, not signing a National Letter of Intent with any school during either the early signing period in November 2015 or the late period in April 2016. Shop ionescu t-shirts created by independent artists from around the globe. Her twin, Edward also played basketball at the City College of San Francisco and was solely a student in the 2018-19 school year, before walking on to the Ducks men's basketball team in 2019-20. Geno Auriemma, UConn coach: When she was a freshman, we overwhelmed them. Dan, Sabrina's father:[The twins] always felt comfort with each other. At the end of the regular season, she was named Pac-12 Freshmen of the Year and unanimous First Team All-Pac-12 and Pac-12 All-Freshman Team selection. As kids, Sabrina Ionescu and her twin brother would hustle old men at basketball courts for 7-Eleven Slurpee money. Basketball Player Born in California #37. She broke the NCAA triple-double record for womens and mens basketball. . Sabrina became the first college basketball player to compile 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 1,000 assists the same day she spoke at Kobe and Gianna Bryant's memorial. I was hoping, and I felt like, OK, she's got something to prove and she would like to come back. She was born to Romanian-American parents, Dan Lonescu and Liliana Blaj. In recent years, basketball phenom Sabrina Ionescu has used her talent to lead the Oregon Ducks and become the face of women's college hoops. These are things that kids can acquire; they don't have to be born with those things. In a 2019 interview with Ava Wallace of The Washington Post, Ionescu admitted to being a "natural scorer", but said that most of the rest of her skill set came from playing alongside both boys and older girls in her childhood:[7].mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 40px}.mw-parser-output .templatequote .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;padding-left:1.6em;margin-top:0}. No posts yet. Liliana Blaj, Sabrina's mother: She's the hardest self-critic. Eddy Ionescu, aka Edward 'Vortex' Ionescu, followed the same path as her sister and is a professional basketball player like her sister. Ionescu's Oregon Ducks also won the Pac-12 championship for the first time since 2000. Ionescu has been in a relationship with her boyfriend, Hroniss Grasu, for a long time. Taurasi, whose parents came to the U.S. from Argentina, says in an espnW interview that one of the similarities she sees between Ionescu and herself is "an immigrant mindset.". Sopak: The biggest challenge she has now is overcoming losing. ", Sabrina: They had posted something about Ja Morant getting one and said that there was only eight or seven people that ever got one in the NCAA tournament, and they listed all the men that had gotten a triple-double. Sabrina: I could tell Eddy was really nervous. The referee came over, ejected him, and Sabrina just got up and started clapping in his face. I took Washington, Oregon State, Oregon, Cal. Eddy: We were together when she made that decision. So I just remember, I said, "I'm going to stay." She was named the winner of the Nancy Lieberman Award as the top Division I women's point guard after the season,[15] and was also a finalist for the Naismith Award.