433.4 miles. That is the total distance if anyone wants to visit London from Ireland. However, that seems negligible for a young girl who brought some Irish luck to Team USA in their friendly Olympic game against the Germans. And if anyone thought that would go unnoticed? Well, that was not to be, as the team’s point guard Sabrina Ionescu made sure to make her visit a memorable one.

The quest for an 8th consecutive gold for the women’s national basketball team began on a positive note. In an emphatic statement, the ladies brushed aside Germany 84-57 on Tuesday night. Following this, their celebrations included a special interaction of their No.6 with a youngster who decided to show her support ever since the squads showed up for the warm-ups.

Consequently, the girl was rewarded for her admiration of Sabrina Ionescu by receiving a golden ball eventually. Capping off this special experience, Ionescu said, “She traveled all the way from Ireland to come and watch me play. I just wanted to make sure that the ball was going to her. Was able to take a picture with her. Obviously, I appreciate her very much.”

Anyhow, this wasn’t Ionescu’s only reflection of the night. She also spared a thought or two on the squad’s revival after their All-Star disappointment. “It was a breath of fresh air to get out of All-Star and come here, there’s one goal and it’s to win,” Ionescu said after the game.

Indeed, it was so, as she was one of the crucial role players behind the team’s impressive show.

Sabrina Ionescu helps Team USA gain momentum

A balanced performance by Team USA means that first-time Olympians, Germany didn’t stand a chance. Led by their charismatic offensive juggernaut A’ja Wilson who scored a fantastic double-double (19 points and 14 rebounds), they functioned efficiently and proved that they are way past their rare exhibition loss at the All-Star weekend.

Apart from the brilliance of Wilson, there were 8 players who managed to register at least 5 points. This list includes Jewell Loyd who had 11 points in the bag, Sabrina Ionescu and Alyssa Thomas who finished with 8 points each. Sabrina’s Liberty teammate Breanna Stewart also had a huge impact with her 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists.

Undeniably, the outing resulted in being a confidence builder for Sabrina Ionescu and the rest. Their fans from all around the globe will hope they carry this sort of form in their upcoming games. They once again face Germany in group stage at the Olympics on August 4th.