FILE PHOTO: Jan 16, 2020; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) drives to the basket as Stanford Cardinal guard Lexie Hull (12) defends during the second half at Matthew Knight Arena. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
NEW YORK (Reuters) – With the upcoming WNBA draft going virtual due to the coronavirus pandemic, Oregon’s Sabrina Ionescu is poised to take center stage on Friday, making her a highly anticipated pick as the first overall selection.
Ionescu’s impressive record as the first NCAA player to achieve 2,000 career points, 1,000 rebounds, and 1,000 assists solidifies her position as a major force in the league. She will most likely join the New York Liberty, offering a much-needed boost for the team after a challenging season.
ESPN analyst and hall of famer Rebecca Lobo has praised Ionescu for her exceptional skill set, competitive fire, and leadership qualities, predicting that she will have a significant impact in the WNBA. Liberty head coach Walt Hopkins has also lauded her undeniable leadership skills, emphasizing her ability to give constructive feedback to teammates while maintaining credibility.
Ionescu’s rise to prominence occurs at a time when the sports world is in a state of uncertainty, with the NCAA tournament canceled and the WNBA season postponed. This creates a unique situation in which players cannot showcase their talents in big-time moments, leading to missed opportunities for under-appreciated players to shine and elevate their draft stock.
The WNBA recently announced that the start of its regular season will be pushed back due to the pandemic, adding to the challenges that athletes and fans are currently facing. The draft is scheduled to take place on Friday at 7 p.m. (2300 GMT) on ESPN.
Reporting by Amy Tennery; Editing by Stephen Coates – Thomson Reuters
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