Everyone knows about the legendary career that Serena Williams had during her playing days. The American icon dominated the WTA circuit, winning an astonishing 23 Grand Slam titles, along with a host of other big trophies. While her accomplishments on the court need no description, very few know about one of the major pillars behind her success. It was her agent, Jill Smoller, who is considered a pioneer for women in the sporting industry. Smoller was a long-time agent of Williams and also attended many of her matches from time to time. With Williams enjoying her retirement now, rumor has it that Smoller is now managing another top female athlete.

Yesterday, New York Liberty scripted history by winning the WNBA title. One of their star players, Sabrina Ionescu ended her title drought, winning her first title with the Liberty. The Liberty defeated the Minnesota Lynx in Game 5 of the finals by 67-62 to lift the trophy. Interestingly, after the match, the fans were left wondering if Jill Smoller was managing Ionescu and was the woman behind her massive rise in brand value. When the Liberty players were celebrating the title triumph and taking the group picture, they shouted, “We want Jill! We want Jill!” This made fans ask questions if Jill was working with Ionescu.

Well, it’s not a matter of speculation. Jill Smoller has been associated with Ionescu for long. It was the powerful NBA agent Bill Duffy who advised Ionescu to choose the WME Sports agency. And then Josh Pyatt, who worked with the late Kobe Bryant, and Jill Smoller led the team representing Ionescu. Back then, the point guard signed a deal with Nike, which was the largest ever deal for a female basketball player.

Ionescu is widely regarded as one of the brightest talents on the WNBA roster and Smoller has heaped praises on her in the past as well, highlighting her qualities that always attract brands.

Jill Smoller on Sabrina Ionescu: ‘She is a once-in-a-generation kind of athlete’

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the sporting world came to a standstill. Despite difficulties ensuing back then, Smoller was keen to close a deal between Ionescu and a headphones brand, Beats By Dre. Additionally, there were also talks of Ionescu partnering with three beverage companies with strong offers on the table.

Describing how Ionescu was one of the most sought-after players even during the pandemic, Smoller said, “Everyone has stepped up to the plate because she is a once-in-a-generation kind of athlete. The men are just as enamored with her as an athlete as women are. When you saw her go up and speak at Kobe’s memorial, you saw there she has a poise that is way beyond her years and is very articulate. On the marketing front, it’s a no-brainer, but I think she’ll be able to do speaking engagements.”

With Ionescu winning her first WNBA title with New York Liberty, her brand value is only set to peak from here. It won’t be a surprise to see her partner with some of the top brands in the coming months. What do you think about Ionescu’s future prospects? Let us know in the comments below.