Sabrina Ionescu is one of the WNBA’s best players. The New York Liberty guard helped lead her team to its first WNBA championship last season, but that hasn’t helped her get any favorable whistles from the referees.
She recently sat down with WNBA legend Sue Bird on her “Bird’s Eye View” podcast and discussed the differences between NBA and WNBA officiating.
Sabrina Ionescu Says WNBA Officials ‘Don’t Care’ How Big of a Star You Are
The 2020 first overall pick has spent here entire career in New York, and has developed into one of the league’s biggest names. She’s also proven to be one of the league’s best three-point shooters, averaging 36.1% for her career.
Her rookie season was cut short after three games due to an ankle injury. She played 30 games the following season, averaging 11.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 6.1 assists. Her point average has increased each year since, with Inonescu shooting a remarkable 44.8% from beyond the arc in 2023.
In the Liberty’s 2024 championship season, Ionescu averaged a career high 18.2 points per game along with 4.4 rebounds and 6.2 assists.
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The three-point shot has been her calling card in recent years, and Ionescu competed against NBA great Stephen Curry in a three-point contest during the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend. Curry won by three points, but Ionescu was able to show her ability to a global audience.
Despite being recognized as one of the WNBA’s best players, Ionescu says she doesn’t get the benefit of the doubt from the league officials. She recently discussed this with a very understanding Bird and says that stars in the NBA and men’s college basketball get more favorable whistles than anyone in the WNBA.
sabrina ionescu on officiating in the wnba:
“when you watch nba or men’s college, star players get any call. you can touch them with a fingernail, they’re going to the free throw line. in the W, they don’t care—there are no handcheck calls—freedom of movement is different…” pic.twitter.com/qGEXRDrC6V
— cc akgae (@clrkszn)
Ionescu said, “One, officiating is a lot different. I would say that is a separate but similar part. When you watch nba or men’s college, your star players get any call. You can touch them with a little fingernail, they’re going to the free throw line. In the W, they don’t care. You could be averaging 30, you could be coming off the bench, you’re not really getting the benefit of the doubt on a whistle.
“That’s kind of an adjustment, too, from college to the WNBA. It’s just hard-nosed, physical, all the hand-checks. There are no hand-check calls. As a point guard in college, if someone reaches you’re getting that call. In the W, no call.
“I think, as a guard especially, it’s so different. Freedom of movement is different, and also strength. You’re playing against women…who have been lifting for 20 years, 15 years. Overall strength of the game is so different. Screening is different. Post players aren’t 5’11”, they’re 6’7″. There’s just a huge difference in speed and physicality that it takes a while to get used to it, but you do get used to it, and then it just becomes the norm.”
The numbers back up Ionesu’s claim that it’s harder for star players to get calls in the WNBA. Last season, she drew 45 shooting fouls in 38 regular-season games. In contrast, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, this year’s NBA MVP and well-known foul-baiter, drew 280 shooting fouls in 76 regular-season games.
Yes, NBA numbers should be higher since they play more games, but there’s certainly a higher level of cheap fouls that get called there than for Ionescu and other WNBA stars. Ionescu and the Liberty are looking to repeat as WNBA champions, but the league’s officials have determined that they’ll have to earn everything in 2025.
