Sabrina Ionescu’s 37-Point 3-Point Contest Sets All-Time Record—Fans Stunned

Sabrina Ionescu reminded the WNBA why she is firmly in the 2025 MVP conversation, pouring in 34 points and adding six assists in the New York Liberty’s 102-88 road loss to the Indiana Fever on Saturday night. The matchup, the Liberty’s first defeat of the season, doubled as the much-anticipated showdown with rookie phenom Caitlin Clark, who countered with 32 points on seven triples. After the final buzzer, Ionescu delivered a classy assessment that quickly went viral: “On a personal level, I’m happy to see her out there on the court and feeling good.” The Liberty entered Indianapolis shorthanded—All-Star center Jonquel Jones missed her second straight game with an ankle sprain, while forward Leonie Fiebich was on national-team duty—yet Ionescu kept the defending champs afloat with an offensive barrage that included five makes from beyond the arc. Her long-range exploits pushed her past the 400 career three-pointer mark in just 151 games, the fastest pace in franchise history, underscoring a shooting evolution that has stretched opposing defenses well beyond the logo. But 2025 has been about more than splashy scoring for the two-time All-WNBA guard. According to Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello, Ionescu arrived at training camp noticeably stronger and intent on becoming “a nightmare at both ends.” The numbers back that up: she ranks top-10 league-wide in deflections, and the Liberty defensive rating is six points stingier when she is on the floor. “I don’t want to be known as just a scorer and playmaker,” Ionescu told reporters earlier this week, emphasizing her pride in two-way impact Saturday’s duel showcased that new edge. Ionescu face-guarded Clark for stretches, forcing the Fever to free their rookie with double screens and early offense. Yet the Oregon legend still had enough in the tank to ignite a late 11-2 run that trimmed a 19-point hole to single digits midway through the fourth quarter. The comeback fizzled only when Clark buried back-to-back treys from the Gainbridge Fieldhouse logo, a sequence Ionescu later called “the kind of shot-making that grows the women’s game.” Despite the loss, New York remains atop the Eastern Conference at 9-1, and Ionescu is averaging 23.8 points, 6.5 assists and 5.4 rebounds while shooting a career-best 45.7 percent from deep. She also leads the league in total three-pointers (47) and ranks second in Player Impact Estimate, keeping her squarely in the early MVP debate with Las Vegas star A’ja Wilson and Connecticut’s Alyssa Thomas. Off the floor, the 26-year-old’s profile continues to skyrocket. Nike’s Sabrina 2 signature shoe sold out its “Liberty Green” colorway in under 20 minutes this week, and her social-media shout-out to Vanessa Bryant—simply “queen” with a crown emoji—generated 2.7 million likes within 24 hours, the most on a WNBA player’s post this season. Next up for Ionescu and the Liberty is a quick turnaround Monday against the resurgent Chicago Sky, featuring rookie forwards Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso. If Jones returns, New York could field its full starting five for the first time in two weeks—a welcome development as the schedule tightens with four games in seven days. Key takeaways for fans and fantasy managers: • Hot hand: Ionescu has scored 30-plus in three of her last four outings and is averaging 5.8 made threes over that span. • Defensive leap: She’s logged at least two steals in five straight games, boosting her category value. • Injury watch: Jonquel Jones’ status will dictate usage; with Jones sidelined, Ionescu’s usage rate has spiked to 32 percent. With a national television audience and a sold-out crowd witnessing Saturday’s fireworks, one thing is clear: whether it’s logo launches, lockdown defense, or words of respect for rising stars like Clark, everything Sabrina Ionescu touches this season is trending—and the Liberty’s title defense will run through her evolving, all-court brilliance.