Sabrina Ionescu shattered the WNBA and NBA record for points scored in the All-Star three-point contest, tallying 37 in the final round on Friday.
Ionescu's ridiculous performance tops the previous best, 31 points, held by Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry and Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton. At one point during the contest, Ionescu made 20 consecutive threes, which is also a record in both the NBA and WNBA, per ESPN Stats and Info.
Sabrina Ionescu (@sabrina_i20) just set the all-time record for NBA or WNBA with a score of 37 PTS in the FINAL ROUND of the #Starry3PT Contest to be crowned the NEW 3-PT CHAMPION | @starrylemonlime pic.twitter.com/YcGy3fDfBq
— WNBA (@WNBA) July 14, 2023
The New York Liberty sharpshooter found a rhythm in the finals, missing only two of 27 shots to outlast the rest of the field, including Arike Ogunbowale of the Dallas Wings and Sami Whitcomb of the Seattle Storm.
"I was just focused on making one at a time," Ionescu told ESPN. "I wasn't sure how many I missed, but I knew it wasn't a lot."
Ionescu boasts the fourth-best shooting percentage from beyond the arc in the WNBA this season, but the 25-year-old's game goes beyond three-pointers. Through 16 outings for the Liberty, Ionescu is averaging 16.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.1 assists.
The top pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft, Ionescu has quickly made a name for herself in New York. A two-time All-Star, Ionescu made impressive WNBA history last year, becoming the youngest player to record multiple triple-doubles. Furthermore, Ionescu is one of five players in WNBA history with several triple-doubles and trails only Alyssa Thomas (7) of the Connecticut Sun for the all-time lead.
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