36 points, 11 rebounds and a record: Sabrina Ionescu’s exceptional performance with the Liberty

Sabrina Ionescu delivered an exceptional performance Sunday night, scoring 36 points and grabbing 11 rebounds to lead the New York Liberty to an 87-78 victory against the Connecticut Sun. This display ends a concerning four-game losing streak in the Big Apple.

The Liberty’s point guard started the game strong, scoring 16 of her team’s first 20 points and reaching 20 points by halftime. « I tried to set the tone, » she commented after the game. « I wasn’t sure what defensive adjustments they would make. I had to be ready for that. »

Sabrina Ionescu dominated the court, just one point shy of her career-high 🔥 pic.twitter.com/xd4i8MWnza

— espnW (@espnW) August 3, 2025

A historic record placing Ionescu among WNBA elite

Beyond her remarkable offensive performance, Ionescu made history by becoming the fastest player since 2003 to reach 1,000 career assists, achieving this in just 170 games. Only Ticha Penicheiro (134 games) and Teresa Weatherspoon (159 games) have done it faster in league history.

This achievement adds to an already remarkable 2025 season for the Liberty star, who is averaging 20.4 points and 5.9 assists per game. « If you had asked me if I would score 36 points with only one made three-pointer, that’s probably not what I would have predicted, » Ionescu shared, highlighting her adaptability.

Sunday’s performance marks her fifth 30+ point game this season, strengthening her MVP candidacy. With 93% free throw shooting and 1.5 steals per game, she confirms her impact on both ends of the floor.

This victory keeps the Liberty in second place in the East with an 18-10 record, maintaining a slim lead over the Atlanta Dream. For Ionescu, also named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for July, this performance confirms her status as leader of a team pursuing their second consecutive title.