Former Oregon star Sabrina Ionescu to represent Team USA at FIBA Women's World Cup
Sabrina Ionescu has been selected as one of 12 women to represent Team USA at this year’s FIBA Women’s World Cup, Team USA announced earlier this week.
The former Oregon standout is coming off a true breakout campaign during the 2022 season where she blossomed into a full-blown star. Ionescu earned her first WNBA All-Star selection, led the Liberty to the WNBA Playoffs — where they took the defending champion Chicago Sky to three games — and finished on the All-WNBA Second Team.
The 12 👊
Our 2022 USA Women's World Cup Team to chase a fourth consecutive gold medal in Sydney!
🇺🇸 #USABWNT x #FIBAWWC pic.twitter.com/WnewsZsuw1
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) September 20, 2022
In 32 minutes a night this past season, Ionescu averaged 17.4 points a game to go with 7.1 rebounds and 6.3 assists. She became the first player in WNBA history to top 500 points, 200 rebounds, and 200 assists in a single season. With two triple-doubles on the year, she moved into a tie for the all-time WNBA triple-double record (three).
Ionescu put up the league’s first-ever triple-double in less than three quarters on June 12, and then recorded the first-ever 30-plus point triple-double on July 6. Additionally, the Liberty guard became the fastest in team history to eclipse the 1,000-career point mark — just 66 games. She also holds the single-season franchise assist record with 228.
This year’s USA Basketball roster features WNBA MVP A’Ja Wilson alongside four other women who helped USA Basketball capture gold at the Tokyo Olympics.
The FIBA Women’s World Cup will be held in Sydney, Australia. Team USA’s first game will be played Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. PT when they face Belgium. Group A play continues through Sept. 27 with games against Puerto Rico, China, South Korea, and Bosnia & Herzegovina.