1-for-19 from the field isn’t the best stat, especially for a well-known shooter. Hence, people are coming for Sabrina Ionescu over her rough shooting in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals. But isn’t that just one night? What’s being ignored is the fact that she’s had one epic year overall, winning an Olympic gold medal, a WNBA championship, and becoming the first WNBA player to have her very own two unisex signature shoes.

Even, very recently, Celtics’ Derrick White pulled up to the Celtics’ ring night wearing a customized pair of Sabrina 2 “By You” (named “Sabrina 2 By Derrick White”) quickly grabbing a ton of attention. Nick DePaula first announced the same for White on his X post, announcing that the pair had just been released to the world.

It’s not just the NBA. Even NFL’s Breece Hall got himself a pair of Sabrina 1 cleats for a game. And obviously, a whole bunch of WNBA stars. It all started when Sabrina signed with Nike in 2020, leading to her launching the Sabrina 1s in 2023 and Sabrina 2 in June this year. However, White isn’t the only NBA star rocking Sabrina’s kicks. Let us tell you that over 177 NBA stars love her sneakers. They’re now available in the market at $160.

Jrue Holiday from the Boston Celtics has already worn them in 57 games, even crediting them for his on-point shooting. Mikal Bridges, DaQuan Jeffries, Corey Kispert, Aaron Holiday, and Jordan Poole have all joined the long list, too.

What sets them apart is the personalization Sabrina has added to them. As a guard herself, she knows what it takes. Hence, they are lighter, more cushioned, and feature a dual-density setup for that extra bounce. All in all, she is set to give a competition to LeBrons and Jordans.

Back to the court, maybe Ionescu’s WNBA Finals didn’t end the way she hoped. But this star has been through it all.

Sabrina Ionescu’s rise to stardom

If we look back, the 26-year-old didn’t get a senior year in college because of the pandemic. Neither did she get to go ahead of the Final Four round in her final year at Oregon because of COVID-19 where she could have probably won the National Championship. She even had a brutal ankle injury in her rookie year. Despite it all, she has managed to bounce back as one of the top players in the league.

And she’s already accomplished so much. A fresh WNBA champion, 3x WNBA All-Star, WNBA’s 2023 Three-Point Shooting Challenge Champion, and an Olympic gold medal. In this particular season, she has been a force pushing Liberty to the Finals, averaging 18.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and one steal, she has delivered multiple standout moments. 

One of them will even go down in history. It’s the 28-foot 3-point game-winning shot in Game 3 of the Finals. After winning the championship for the first time in the franchise’s history, she said, “I don’t want to get too emotional talking about it, but 2020 being the toughest year of my life, dealing with a lot individually.” 

“To be able to just come now, 2024, a few years later and just see all the hard work that you put in, this is what the dream is. You just gotta continue to believe in yourself and stick with it, and good things will always happen,” she said.

Bad games do happen, and fans are surely disappointed, but that doesn’t erase everything she’s accomplished so far. Her passion, her growth, and her shoes are all part of her story in the making. And she is just getting started. Hope to see more of Ionescu, both on and off the court.