New York Liberty’s star guard Sabrina Ionescu took a brief detour from her injury recovery saga to dish out a two-word congratulatory zinger to Chicago Sky’s Michaela Onyenwere on Instagram. Onyenwere, now a rival but formerly a teammate of Ionescu’s during her New York Liberty days, announced her induction into Grandview High School’s Hall of Fame. And Ionescu, in her trademark straightforward style, commented, “Congrats girl.”
Is it heartfelt? Maybe. Is it just a smidge sardonic? Absolutely.
The Post That Started It All
Michaela Onyenwere, who seems to be collecting honors faster than Sabrina can rack up assists, took to Instagram on Sunday to share the big news.
“I was recently inducted into the Grandview Highschool Hall of Fame for both Basketball and Track and Field! I am humbled, blessed, and grateful to leave a legacy of this magnitude at a place that once meant so much to me.”
Cue the collective “aww” from fans and a resounding “about time” from those who followed her athletic dominance in high school.
A Rivalry with a Side of Friendship
Sabrina and Michaela’s friendship began back in 2021 when Onyenwere was drafted sixth overall by the Liberty. She promptly snatched up the WNBA Rookie of the Year honors that same season, just to ensure everyone knew she wasn’t there to mess around.
Fast forward to today, and while they now represent opposing teams, their bond is still as strong as Sabrina’s three-point shot. Offseason? These two are likely training together. On the court? All bets are off, and trash talk is fair game.
Sabrina Ionescu’s Thumb Drama
Meanwhile, Ionescu is riding the injury recovery rollercoaster after undergoing surgery on Dec. 6 to stabilize her right thumb’s UCL, torn during Game 4 of the WNBA Finals. Of course, in true Sabrina fashion, she didn’t let a little thing like surgery dampen her vibe.
Posting from a hospital bed on Dec. 9, she shared a photo, complete with a thumbs-up (from her good hand, obviously), writing:
“Married my best friend, won a gold medal, and a WNBA championship all in the same year. God is good … ps: getting my thumb fixed was quite the bday present.”
Because why not casually drop your fairy-tale year while flexing your MVP energy?
A Legacy Built on Respect (and a Little Sarcasm)
Despite their rivalry, Sabrina and Michaela’s mutual respect shines through. Sure, “Congrats girl” might sound a bit underwhelming, but that’s peak Ionescu. Why write a Shakespearean sonnet when you can keep it short, sweet, and Instagram-story friendly?
As the WNBA offseason continues, fans eagerly await what’s next for these two. Whether it’s more accolades, more rivalry banter, or just another round of Instagram shoutouts, one thing is certain: the WNBA is infinitely more entertaining with players like Ionescu and Onyenwere leading the way.
After all, who doesn’t love a little drama with their basketball?