When Sabrina Ionescu blows out her birthday candles, she probably doesn’t make wishes—she makes guarantees. Turning 27, the New York Liberty sharpshooter took to Instagram for a gratitude-packed birthday post that hit fans right in the feels. But it wasn’t just about cake and candles; it was about championships, Olympic gold, marriage, and a little thing called thumb surgery. Because, hey, why not cram the ultimate highlights reel into a single year?
The post was pure Sabrina—equal parts heartfelt, inspirational, and casually unstoppable. She shouted out her husband, NFL journeyman Hroniss Grasu, for being her rock during a whirlwind year. Oh, and she also casually slid in an update on her thumb injury. Because when you’ve got a championship ring and a wedding ring, what’s a little thumb repair, right?
“26, thank you ✨ Married my best friend, won a gold medal 🥇, and a WNBA championship 🏆 all in the same year. God is good. Beyond grateful for everything this year had to offer, and thankful for everyone a part of my circle🫶🏼 27… Let’s get it! ps: getting my thumb fixed was quite the bday present 👍🏼,” she wrote.
All the World’s a Stage… and Sabrina’s Crushing It
Sabrina’s year read like a movie script that should probably be titled “From Oregon to Olympus (and Madison Square Garden).” After clinching gold at the Paris Olympics, she played an instrumental role in leading the Liberty to their first-ever WNBA championship. And just when we thought her story couldn’t get any more epic, she decided to marry her college sweetheart and get her thumb patched up.
Speaking of that thumb, fans of the Liberty can breathe easy. After tearing a ligament in her shooting hand during the Finals (because of course she gave her all for the title), Sabrina has undergone successful surgery. She’s expected to be back for the 2025 season, presumably ready to torch defenders while simultaneously planning her next life milestone.
Hroniss Grasu: The Secret MVP
Ionescu didn’t forget to heap praise on her husband, Hroniss Grasu, who has been the emotional and logistical MVP off the court. Grasu, an NFL veteran who’s played for seemingly half the league (Chicago Bears, Ravens, Titans, you name it), knows a thing or two about perseverance. And Sabrina’s Instagram post made it clear that she’s as smitten as ever.
The lovebirds tied the knot earlier this year, after an engagement that was so well-planned, it deserves its own Netflix rom-com. Grasu popped the question with an elaborate ruse involving a faux GQ photoshoot. Sabrina’s reaction? Shock, followed by the kind of joy that can only be described as “immediate Instagram flex.”
“I was completely shocked and caught off guard because he played it off so well,” Sabrina revealed. That night, friends and family partied like they’d won a championship of their own, which honestly feels on-brand for the Ionescu-Grasu power duo.
A Legacy Written in Gold (and Thumb Braces)
For someone who seems destined to have her jersey retired someday, Sabrina’s 26th year is already one for the history books. Gold medal? Check. Championship trophy? Double-check. Fairy-tale wedding? Oh, you betcha.
Now, as she steps into her 27th year, all eyes are on what’s next. Will she drop a record-breaking season? Invent a new way to humble trash-talking opponents? Write a memoir that instantly tops bestseller lists? Whatever it is, one thing’s for sure: Sabrina Ionescu doesn’t do boring.
Here’s to another year of buzzer-beaters, life wins, and Instagram posts that make us all feel like underachievers. Happy birthday, Sabrina—keep showing us how it’s done.
