Sabrina Ionescu isn’t one to back down from a challenge.
Just ask Stephen Curry.
After going toe-to-toe with the greatest shooter of all-time at last year’s NBA All-Star Weekend, barely losing out to Curry by a score of 29-26, Ionescu now has her team on the brink of history.
The New York Liberty are looking to capture its first WNBA title in franchise history, as they once again find themselves back in the WNBA Finals .
After falling short in the finals last year at the hands of reigning MVP A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces, Ionescu and the Liberty were able to extract their revenge.
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The Liberty defeated Wilson and the back-to-back defending champions, in the semifinals three games to one, putting them once more, back on the WNBA’s grandest stage.
Ionescu is determined to finish the job this time around.
Stating that they are “fueled by that feeling that we all felt in the locker room last year, to not feel that again.
“That fire is burning bright in all of us, and to be able to use that to continue to motivate us, and if we do that and control what we can, we’re the best team in the league, and no one can beat us.”
Ionescu, along with her star running mate, Breanna Stewart, led the Liberty this year to an WNBA best, 32-8 record, dominating the regular season.
They have carried that over into the postseason and all the way into the finals.
What’s standing between Ionescu and her first championship?
The Minnesota Lynx.
The Lynx finished just behind the Liberty with a 30-10 regular season record, and were responsible for two of New York’s eight losses.
It is going to be a dogfight and Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello is well aware.
“They’re a great team, they’re a really good team. … Obviously, they’ve beaten us a few [times],” Brondello said.
“I don’t think they’ve seen us at our best. So now it’s about, it’s a new season now. We have to bring our best, and hopefully that’s enough.”
Brondello better hope that Ionescu’s best is enough. Good news for her and the Liberty, it’s a pretty safe bet that it is, albeit it won’t be easy.
Through six postseason games, Ionescu is averaging 20.1 points per game to go along with 5.1 assists and 5.1 rebounds, while shooting 47% from beyond the arc.
The Library and Lynx will tip-off Thursday night in New York in a best of five series to determine the WNBA champion.
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The moment is now for Ionescu and the Liberty, it’s up to them to seize it.
As Ionescu’s late great mentor, Kobe Bryant, once reminded all of us, ‘the job’s not finished.’