Sabrina Ionescu took a minute to get cooking but ended her 2023 regular season campaign in record-setting fashion. The two-time New York Liberty All-Star missed all eight of her shots in the first half before catching fire after the break, finding an open spot in the corner and connecting on a pure 3-pointer off a heads-up dish from Courtney Vandersloot. The shot was Ionescu’s 122nd triple of the season, breaking Diana Taurasi’s single-season record that had stood since 2006. Ionescu drained all four 3-point attempts in the second half against the Los Angeles Sparks, and for the game tallied 16 points, four rebounds and five assists in New York’s 96-89 win on September 7, 2023.

Sabrina Ionescu

Sabrina Ionescu breaks WNBA record for threes made in a season

Spend enough time honing your craft and the shooter's bounce is bound to follow. New York Liberty rookie DiDi Richards drives against Seattle Storm center Mercedes Russell, draws her out of position with some crafty footwork then banks home a tough scoop layup through contact on August 20, 2021.

DiDi Richards

DiDi Richards pivots around defender to sink off-balance scoop shot

A well-timed jab step can make or break an open look. New York Liberty guard Sami Whitcomb sizes up her Chicago Sky defender as she handles a pass from a teammate then promptly attacks off the dribble, loses her check with a convincing drive fake and knocks down a step-back triple on May 23, 2021.

Sami Whitcomb

Sami Whitcomb gets defender on the ground before pulling up for three

In a postseason debut that fans have clamored for since the offseason, the New York Liberty – and star guard Sabrina Ionescu – did not disappoint. In the waning seconds of a decided contest, with the whole of Barclays Center on their feet, Ionescu punctuated the highly anticipated victory with a deep triple way beyond the arc. It was Ionescu’s seventh three-pointer on the night, giving her a grand total of 29 points in the First Round battle on September 15, 2023.

Sabrina Ionescu punctuates W from way beyond arc in 2023 Playoffs

Living up to lofty expectations as a young star that can do it all means, yes, stepping up when the game is on the line. In her first taste of action after an injury-shortened rookie campaign, New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu executes a sideline inbound play to perfection, racing to grab a hand-off from teammate Kylee Shook and immediately burying a turnaround triple to give her squad a last-second lead over the Indiana Fever on May 14, 2021.

Sabrina Ionescu buries game-winning triple to beat Fever on opening night

When you draw as many double teams as Sabrina Ionescu does, the ability to thread the needle and set up open teammates becomes a must-have skill. Commanding the respect of the Atlanta Dream, Ionescu takes two defenders with her on a dribble handoff, before freezing them just long enough to drop in a no-look bounce pass down the lane for an open score. The New York Liberty star was in do-it-all mode on June 30, 2022, tallying 17 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists, two steals and a block. Putting the league on notice, she would soon be named Eastern Conference Player of the Month.

Sabrina Ionescu slams no-look bounce into post for teammate

Better get used to watching Michaela Onyenwere step up. In the first quarter of her first WNBA contest, the New York Liberty guard capitalizes on a passive defense and buries the first bucket of her career. Onyenwere finished the debut with 18 points and a victory in the May 14, 2021 matchup against the Indiana Fever.

Michaela Onyenwere

Michaela Onyenwere pulls up for confident triple in first career WNBA appearance

Courtney Vandersloot woke up in a big way following a sluggish start. In her first season with the New York Liberty after 12 years with the Chicago Sky, Vandersloot had just three first-half points as her squad trailed the underdog Los Angeles Sparks by two at the break. The five-time All-Star sprang to life after halftime as she ran the give-and-go with Breanna Stewart, dumping the ball into the corner before cutting to the basket and converting a contested layup. Vandersloot then stole the ensuing inbounds pass and deposited two more quick points, scoring 20 of her 23 points in the second half and 13 in a decisive fourth quarter. She also had seven rebounds, six assists and four 3-pointers as the Liberty rallied for a 76-69 win on August 1, 2023. 

Courtney Vandersloot

Courtney Vandersloot racks up pair of buckets in six-second span

When she gets a head of steam, New York Liberty forward Betnijah Laney knows only three speeds: fast, faster, and gone. Her old team, the Atlanta Dream, finds that out the hard way here, as Laney pivots from a crafty spin move into an off-hand layup across the basket. The 2020 Most Improved Player of the Year showed her growth in every facet, chipping in 16 points, seven assists, and five rebounds in a 73-69 loss on June 29, 2021.

Betnijah Laney

Betnijah Laney slashes and spins to the cup for tough layup

Breanna Stewart’s highly-anticipated return to the Pacific Northwest went swimmingly. The former Seattle Storm star — who made four All-Star appearances, won two titles, two Finals MVP awards and the 2018 WNBA MVP over the course of six accomplished seasons — came back for the first time as a member of the New York Liberty and did not take it easy on her old squad after some pregame hugs. Stewart dazzled as she brought the ball up the court before hitting her defender with a crossover dribble and finishing with a foul-line runner while drawing a foul. She tallied 25 points, 11 rebounds, two steals and two blocks as the Liberty picked up an 86-78 win on May 30, 2023.

Breanna Stewart

Breanna Stewart puts on show in return to Seattle

Thousands of hoopers have been putting up buckets over the course of the last quarter-century but only one field-goal attempt in WNBA history is referred to as “The Shot”. Down by two points with just 2.4 seconds left in a win-or-go-home Finals matchup, Teresa Weatherspoon sets up for an inbound pass from 94-feet out, beelines up the floor with the ball, then heaves a 60-foot prayer off the glass and through the net. The instant classic game winner gave the New York Liberty a one-point victory over the Houston Comets on September 4, 1999.

Teresa Weatherspoon

Teresa Weatherspoon gives team new life with game-winning miracle in 1999 Finals

Marine Johannès’ hot start was emblematic of things to come for the New York Liberty. In search of the franchise’s first Commissioner’s Cup championship, Johannès wasted no time making her mark as she capped a scintillating first half when she took one dribble off an outlet pass from Courtney Vandersloot before pulling up and draining her fourth 3-pointer before halftime. In just 14 minutes off the bench, the reserve guard connected on 6 of 8 field goals — a scorching 5 for 7 from downtown — for a team-high 17 points to go with three rebounds and two assists as the Liberty won their seventh consecutive game to clinch the in-season title in a demonstrative 82-63 triumph on August 15, 2023.

Marine Johannès

Marine Johannès leads all scorers in Commissioner's Cup title game

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Sabrina Ionescu

DiDi Richards

Sami Whitcomb

Sabrina Ionescu

Sabrina Ionescu

Sabrina Ionescu

Michaela Onyenwere

Courtney Vandersloot

Betnijah Laney

Breanna Stewart

Teresa Weatherspoon

Marine Johannès