The New York Liberty cruised into the FIBA World Cup break with a commanding 85-66 win over the Chicago Sky on Saturday.
However, despite a dominant team performance fueled by Han Xu, the spotlight shifted to four-time All-Star Sabrina Ionescu. The 28-year-old, currently going through a slump, recorded a disappointing shooting night, missing all 10 of her field goal attempts.
However, Ionescu’s diplomatic approach in addressing the recent inefficiency was enough to give ammunition to social media debates.
WNBA Fans Debate Sabrina Ionescu’s Comments Amid Shooting Slump
Ionescu’s cold streak has been building over the last week. She shot 2-for-12 against the Golden State Valkyries just a day earlier, tallying 7 points in a 79-60 loss on Thursday night.
That makes her a combined 2-for-22 from the floor over a brutal back-to-back stretch.
Jack Maloney of CBS Sports highlighted an unwanted record set by Ionescu, as the Liberty guard now holds the league record for the fewest threes made in an 8-game span with at least 50 attempts.
sabrina ionescu 0-3 from 3-point range today, hasn’t made more than two 3s in a game since aug. 3 and is now shooting a career-worst 29.5%
over her last eight games she is 8-53 from 3
that is the fewest 3s made in an eight game span with at least 50 attempts in wnba history pic.twitter.com/YLHBOmxBCK
— jack maloney (@jackmaloneycbs) August 29, 2026
Undeterred by the drop in form, Ionescu said, “It’s not that big of a deal to me. I know who I am. I know what I’m able to do. Kind of felt like the ball was allergic to the rim there for me. Like it’s literally just toilet-bowling out.”
While New York proved they can carry the load when their floor general misfires, those online questioned this decline in production, as one user remarked: “NO SHES OVERRATED BEEN ACTUALLY WHEN THEY REFS GIFTED THEM THE CHAMPIONSHIP SHE DID NOTHING THAT SERIES”
NO SHES OVERRATED BEEN ACTUALLY WHEN THEY REFS GIFTED THEM THE CHAMPIONSHIP SHE DID NOTHING THAT SERIES
— Justin (@JimNaesium) August 29, 2026
“Current slump going on 3 years now. 🤣,” another chimed in.
Current slump going on 3 years now. 🤣 pic.twitter.com/EgG66puf4s
— Troll (@RunADfrntRoute) August 30, 2026
“Sabrina Ionesco is shooting 31.5% from three over her last three seasons, probably just time to adjust what we think of her as a shooter,” Kirk Evans wrote.
Sabrina Ionesco is shooting 31.5% from three over her last three seasons, probably just time to adjust what we think of her as a shooter
— Kirk Evans (@KirkEvans0) August 29, 2026
However, many also brushed off the panic over the sudden drop in efficiency.
“I’m not worried either. Genuinely,” a user wrote, backing Ionescu to bounce back.
“She’ll be ok. Idk why lib fans are freaking out,” another WNBA observer weighed in.
She’ll be ok. Idk why lib fans are freaking out
— taly (@talytokkiz) August 29, 2026
“Sab could go 0/30 and I’d still support her, [expletive] everyone else,” a loyal Ionescu supporter asserted.
The team found alternative ways to score and dominated at the free-throw line against Chicago. Han Xu anchored the victory with a season-high 19 points off the bench on 75% shooting.
Breanna Stewart added 13 points and 9 rebounds and extended her franchise record streak of 30 consecutive games with double-digit scoring and at least one defensive statistic.
The Liberty sits at 24-16 overall and has comfortably locked up a playoff spot.
With the FIBA World Cup break in Germany offering some rest, Ionescu, who had an injury-laden start to the regular season, has roughly three weeks to regain composure before the league play resumes on September 17.
