When New York Liberty sensation Sabrina Ionescu was announced as the final wildcard entry for the much-hyped Unrivaled league, the basketball world erupted with excitement—and just a dash of skepticism. After all, how often does a WNBA superstar join a historic new league fresh off thumb surgery? This isn’t a rom-com where the hero magically heals in time for the final act; it’s high-stakes professional sports. Yet, Ionescu seems determined to prove she’s more than ready to silence the doubters.
“I should be cleared and ready to go,” Ionescu told the Associated Press with the kind of confidence usually reserved for someone about to sink a buzzer-beater. “The first year was something I wanted to experience, and having ownership is a big part of that as well.”
Ownership, huh? Just casually adding “team stakeholder” to her growing résumé. Maybe next week she’ll announce plans to buy the moon.
The League’s Star-Studded Roll Call
For those living under a rock—or perhaps still recovering from the Liberty’s playoff heartbreak—Unrivaled is the brainchild of Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, who apparently decided their WNBA offseasons weren’t chaotic enough. With 36 elite players signed on, including Brittney Griner, Marina Mabrey, Katie Lou Samuelson, and Satou Sabally, the league promises to be a basketball carnival of epic proportions. And let’s not forget Ionescu’s contract. According to ESPN’s Kendra Andrews, it’s a deal so unprecedented it makes the rest of us question our life choices.
Meanwhile, Sabrina has already dubbed it a “huge decision,” adding, “I weighed out all my options and decided to do what’s best for me and my career.” Translation? When you’re offered a groundbreaking salary and partial ownership in a groundbreaking league, you don’t exactly say, “Let me sleep on it.”
Thumbs Up for January
Skeptics have been buzzing about Ionescu’s surgically repaired thumb, questioning whether she’ll be ready for Unrivaled’s Jan. 17 debut in Miami. Spoiler alert: she is not here for your concern.
“Obviously, it’s a great opportunity to compete against the best players in the league,” she said, exuding the kind of poise that reminds us why she’s the face of the Liberty. “It’s a great opportunity to refine my game in the offseason.”
Let’s face it: if anyone can turn offseason play into an art form, it’s Ionescu. Whether she’s draining threes or breaking records, the woman has a knack for making the impossible look effortless.
Accommodating a Star’s Double Life
Despite her thumb drama and a grueling Unrivaled schedule, Sabrina isn’t giving up her role as a two-sport ambassador. The Liberty star will grace the NBA All-Star Weekend in February, an event she practically stole last year when she squared off with Steph Curry in a shootout for the ages.
Unrivaled, in a move that screams “we know who butters our bread,” has agreed to accommodate her preexisting commitments. “I have certain dates I have to be gone for,” Ionescu explained, emphasizing the league’s flexibility. “They were very accommodating with things I already accepted.”
Translation? She’s running the show, and the league knows it.
What’s Next for Sabrina and Unrivaled?
As the league’s inaugural season looms, all eyes are on Ionescu. Can she live up to the sky-high expectations while juggling recovery, historic contracts, and media commitments? If history is any guide, she’ll probably end up breaking a record or two while she’s at it.
Unrivaled tips off Jan. 17 in Miami, with Sabrina Ionescu officially closing out the player roster as its 36th member. The big question now isn’t whether she’ll play—it’s how many ankles she’ll metaphorically break along the way.
