Syndication: The Record
Sabrina Ionescu, star guard for the New York Liberty, will participate in the inaugural season of the Unrivaled 3-on-3 league.
The league announced on Monday that Ionescu has been added as a wild-card roster entry. She will play for Phantom BC, joining Satou Sabally (Dallas Wings), Marina Mabrey (Connecticut Sun), Natasha Cloud (Phoenix Mercury), Brittney Griner (Mercury), and Katie Lou Samuelson (Indiana Fever).
Ionescu is the 36th and final player to join the league.
Unrivaled is set to kick off its season on January 17 in the Miami area, with the season running through March. The league, which boasts the highest average pay in women’s sports, has divided its players into six teams of six. While Ionescu’s earnings were not disclosed, ESPN reported on Monday that her agreement is “unprecedented and historic,” placing her in a unique category. Additionally, players will receive a share of the league’s equity.
At 27 years old, Ionescu is coming off a stellar year, helping the Liberty secure the 2024 WNBA title and earning a gold medal with the United States at the Paris Olympics. ESPN also reported that she recently underwent surgery for a thumb injury sustained during Game 4 of the WNBA Finals.
Last season, Ionescu averaged 18.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game. She was the first overall pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft.
