The New York Liberty won their first WNBA championship last season in a five-game series against the Minnesota Lynx. Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart were the team’s top scorers and have now led the Liberty to a perfect 5-0 start in 2025.
In their latest win, the Liberty defeated the expansion Golden State Valkyries, with Stewart drawing a wild 16 fouls. When asked if she’d ever seen that many fouls drawn by a single player, Ionescu took a playful jab at the reigning NBA MVP.
Sabrina Ionescu Laughs While Taking Quick Shot at NBA MVP
Stewart has drawn contact since the moment she arrived in New York in 2023. The two-time MVP racked up 214 shooting fouls in her first two seasons with the Liberty but had drawn only four through the team’s first four games of 2025.
That changed quickly against Golden State. In a back-and-forth battle that featured 16 ties and 20 lead changes, the Liberty held on for an 82-77 win. Stewart led all scorers with 27 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter. She also drew 16 total fouls — 13 shooting, two offensive, and one loose ball.
She finished 15 of 19 from the free-throw line and added seven rebounds and four assists. Ionescu chipped in 24 points and hit six of 15 from deep in just over 36 minutes.
In the postgame press conference, a reporter asked Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello if she’d ever seen a player draw 16 fouls. Brondello replied, “Never,” but Ionescu quickly whispered, “SGA.”
“Have you ever seen a player draw 16 fouls?”
“SGA” – Sabrina Ionescu pic.twitter.com/TsWveMvDQl — Underdog (@Underdog) May 30, 2025
Kennedy Burke, also at the podium, cracked a smile at the comment. Stewart now ranks fourth in the WNBA with 17 shooting fouls drawn this season. Her 111 last season trailed only A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Foul History
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was recently named NBA MVP after averaging 32.7 points per game this season. He also posted 5.0 rebounds and 6.4 assists while leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to the NBA Finals.
Long known for his foul-drawing ability, Gilgeous-Alexander drew 280 shooting fouls this year — his second-highest total. He drew 322 in 2022–23 and 272 last season.
Still, he trailed only Giannis Antetokounmpo, who drew 353 shooting fouls this season. That makes sense for the Bucks star, given his size and physical presence near the rim.
Gilgeous-Alexander, who thrives on driving, has taken heat for how often he gets the whistle. He’s drawn 61 shooting fouls in the playoffs so far, the most of any player, and that pace is expected to continue in the Finals.
