Sabrina Ionescu will stay in New York for a little longer. The WNBA superstar signed a contract extension with the New York Liberty on Monday, signaling a significant gain for the former Oregon Duck.
The Liberty announced on Twitter that the extension would keep Ionescu on the team through 2025.
Multi-Year Extension ✅ The New York Liberty has signed All-Star guard, @sabrina_i20, to an extension through the 2025 season.🗽 pic.twitter.com/2yIzrmrHT8
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) May 15, 2023
According to a report by Richard Cohen, the deal signed is worth $202,000/$208,060. The deal could not be protected, according to Cohen, because New York already met their six-player protection limit. It’s below max and she was eligible for a supermax, but ultimately, this was the deal made.
Per source, Sabrina Ionescu has signed a contract extension with the New York Liberty.
Deal is for $202,000/$208,060, unprotected (couldn't be protected as NY already at 6-player limit). That's below the regular max numbers, never mind the supermax she was eligible for. #WNBA
— Richard Cohen (@RichardCohen1) May 15, 2023
Sabrina Ionescu is one of the brightest young stars in the WNBA. The former Oregon Duck star entered the W with much hype and fanfare. She has thus far been brilliant as she progresses in her career. She averaged 17.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game in the 2022 WNBA season.
At Oregon, Ionescu gained fame for her brilliant successes. The Ducks’ aspirations for a National Championship in women’s basketball were unfortunately cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic. So Sabrina left the University of Oregon accomplished but without that elusive championship.
Ionescu hopes to achieve that professionally; this off-season, the Liberty made a massive step towards that goal. New York acquired fellow superstar Breanna Stewart, a winner at every level in her career. The combination of Ionescu and Stewart should make for very entertaining basketball in Brooklyn this season.
The basketball world reacted to the big news.
well well well, looks like Ionescu is in on keeping the superteam around past this season https://t.co/nqphTxh34F
— Bailey Gayly (@BeezyGrey) May 15, 2023
Biiiig time…Liberty are going to be fun the next few years with this super team https://t.co/upLmpI8Zd7
— Boldy James (@sliceofthejimbo) May 15, 2023
A two-year near-max extension for Sabrina Ionescu. Coming off her first All-Star campaign, she sees a significant pay raise beginning next year. Ionescu averaged 17.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 6.3 assists across 36 games in 2022, her first fully healthy WNBA season. https://t.co/tfrqn5sTdn
— Myles (@MylesEhrlich) May 15, 2023
W Twitter: “Why is Sabrina Ionescu getting an extension? 🤬”
New York Liberty: Cause it’s cute 😎 pic.twitter.com/6HYt1ghxZC
— K.BO XXV (@KBO_XXV) May 15, 2023
Well deserved, @sabrina_i20!#ProDucks https://t.co/xFeUstchg7
— Oregon Women’s Basketball (@OregonWBB) May 15, 2023
