On April 17, the 2020 WNBA Draft was held virtually without any players, guests, and media on-site. Due to the current pandemic. The draft was televised, however. Point Guard Sabrina Ionescu was the ultimate prize for teams looking to strengthen their rosters.
The draft lottery was won by the New York Liberty back in September 2019. The Liberty were rewarded with the 1st overall pick, for their 17-51 record throughout the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
As expected, the Liberty selected Sabrina Ionescu out of the University of Oregon. Ionescu had a historic collegiate career, holding the all-time leader in assists accolade in the Pac-12 Conference. But more widely known, she is the only NCAA D1 basketball player ever to record 2,000 points, 1,000 assists, and 1,000 rebounds.
Ionescu spent 4 seasons at the University of Oregon, averaging 18 points, 7.3 rebounds, 7.7 assists, and 1.5 steals, in 142 contests. In the 2019-20 season, she posted averages of 17.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, 9.1 assists, and 1.5 steals, in 33 games.
The 22-year-old was eligible to declare for the 2019 WNBA Draft, and was considered a top pick. Instead, she decided to return to Oregon to complete her final season at the college level.
At the end of March, Ionescu was named just the 2nd unanimous choice for the AP Women’s Player of the Year Award. Joining Breanna Stewart in 2015-16.
Sabrina Ionescu regularly worked out with the late Kobe Bryant, after becoming friends with his daughter Gianna Bryant. Bryant was selected as an honorary draftee in the 2020 WNBA Draft, alongside Alyssa Altobelli and Payton Chester.
