Sharing a Past With Caitlin Clark, Sabrina Ionescu Looks Forward to the Rookie in the WNBA

Caitlin Clark has often stated how much she enjoyed watching Sabrina Ionescu bring glory to Oregon. She has also mentioned how the then-Ducks star hosted Clark when she was deciding where to go to college. The NCAA’s all-time leading scorer has also called Ionescu one of her idols. Hence, sharing great connections, the two met just 24 hours ago when Ionescu and Co. annihilated the Fever in Indiana. Despite Clark’s subpar performance against Liberty, however, the 2x All-Star continues to look forward to a better transition for the rookie.

In her post-game conference, Sabrina Ionescu talked about what she expects Caitlin Clark would do in the W. She said, “I’m just excited to see what she’s gonna be able to accomplish. Being able to kind of weather that storm and figure out what makes you, you. And she’s so young. She’s gonna be able to learn and grow. Times like this are when you figure out what you’re really made of and how you continue to improve as a teammate, as a basketball player, as a person.”

Ending the conversation, Ionescu added, “I’m not the least bit worried about what she’s gonna accomplish in the league. I just know she’s gonna continue to work really hard and stick with it. Good things will happen to good people.”

When comparing her own rookie season, Ionescu mentioned that she only played two games. However, she returned the next year and had to navigate through various things. These included being the first draft pick, having a target on her back, and also trying to stay healthy. Nevertheless, she also said that this league is tough and fighting adversity is part of the journey.

The Caitlin Clark effect has also enticed the Liberty coach as she too had some words of advice and appreciation for the most-hyped player.

“An amazing player”: Sandy Brondello got real about Caitlin Clark

While the fans are going against Caitlin Clark after she added two Ls for the team, other veterans in the league are standing up to support her. Similar was the case when Liberty’s head coach Sandy Brondello talked the talk about the first draft pick in 2024. Addressing Clark, she said in her pre-game interview, “Look, I think Caitlin is an amazing player. She’s going to have a really, really great career. I think she’s mentally tough. She’s got obviously a great future ahead of her.”

She also had a word of advice for her before Tuesday’s matchup. She said, “College is different from the pros. That’s the biggest adjustment. She got the skills but how do you play learning. My advice [would be] just focus on what you can control and don’t get too high or two low because it’s gonna be a journey of highs and lows. And that’s for every athlete, not just Caitlin.”

The Liberty will try to repeat history as Indiana travels to Brooklyn next. It will be interesting to see if Caitlin Clark has learned anything from her previous game against Sabrina Ionescu and Co. and if she will apply the same on Saturday.