Sabrina Ionescu's breakout season continued on Wednesday in historic fashion.
In a clash against the Western Conference-leading Aces, Ionescu scored 31 points with 13 rebounds and 10 assists in the Liberty's 116-107 win. It marked the first time in WNBA history a player has recorded a triple-double with at least 30 points.
"I was just really trying to take care of the ball. I thought that was really important," Ionescu said, according to ESPN. "As a point guard and the primary ball handler, just wanting to continue to work on that part of the game.
"I'm just trying to be the best that I can every time I step out on the floor. It's me versus me. I'm trying to get better and continue to learn from all the situations that I've been put in."
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Ionescu left Oregon as the No. 1 overall pick in 2020 with the NCAA record for triple-doubles (26) and as the only player with 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 1,000 assists, so having a triple-double is not anything new for the All-Star Liberty guard. But here's why it was a big night in league history.
Historic triple-double
Previous Ionescu performances had already ranked near the top of the WNBA's highest-scoring triple-doubles, but Wednesday's pushed her to the summit.
Before Ionescu's 31-point performance on Wednesday, Sparks center Lisa Leslie, who scored 29 points with 15 rebounds and 10 blocks against the Shock on Sept. 9, 2004, held the record for most points in a triple-double performance. Leslie and Starzz Margo Dydek, who had 12 points, 11 rebounds and 10 blocks against the Miracle on June 7, 2001, are the only WNBA players with triple-doubles that aren't points, assists and rebounds.
Here's a look at the highest-scoring triple-doubles in WNBA history, according to Stathead:
| Player | Team | Points | Other stats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sabrina Ionescu | Liberty | 31 | 13 rebounds, 10 assists |
| Lisa Leslie | Sparks | 29 | 15 rebounds, 10 blocks |
| Sabrina Ionescu | Liberty | 27 | 13 rebounds, 12 assists |
| Angel McCoughtry | Dream | 27 | 10 rebounds, 10 assists |
| Sabrina Ionescu | Liberty | 26 | 10 rebounds, 12 assists |
| Candace Parker | Sky | 16 | 13 rebounds, 10 assists |
| Sheryl Swoopes | Comets | 14 | 15 rebounds, 10 assists |
| Courtney Vandersloot | Sky | 13 | 10 rebounds, 15 assists |
| Chelsea Gray | Sparks | 13 | 10 rebounds, 13 assists |
| Temeka Johnson | Storm | 13 | 10 rebounds, 11 assists |
| Moriah Jefferson | Lynx | 13 | 10 rebounds, 10 assists |
| Margo Dydek | Starzz | 12 | 11 rebounds, 10 blocks |
| Candace Parker | Sparks | 11 | 17 rebounds, 11 assists |
| Deanna Nolan | Sky | 11 | 10 rebounds, 11 assists |
| Candace Parker | Sparks | 10 | 14 rebounds, 10 assists |
In addition to setting the record for most points scored in a WNBA triple-double, Ionescu also matched Candace Parker for the most triple-doubles in a career with three. Ionescu has played in only two full WNBA seasons.
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But her performance is more than just the three counting stats. On the way to scoring 31 points, Ionescu shot 76.9 percent from the field (10-for-13), the second-best field goal percentage in WNBA triple-doubles behind only Courtney Vandersloot's 80 percent mark on 4-for-5 shooting.
Ionescu is also the second WNBA player to post a triple-double while making at least 10 field goals, with Leslie's 11 remaining the record. Ionescu's seven made 3-point attempts are also the most for a triple-double, as is her 87.5 percent success rate from long range (7-for-8).
There's also the fact that Ionescu did not turn the ball over at any point during her historic performance. She is the only WNBA player to post a triple-double without any turnovers and, according to ESPN, is the second professional basketball player between the NBA and WNBA with at least a 75 percent success rate from the field and zero turnovers in a triple-double performance, joining Nikola Jokic of the Nuggets.
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Ionescu's performance comes during a breakout season for her in which she is averaging 17.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game. She is the only player currently ranking within the top 10 in averages for scoring (eighth), rebounds (10th) and assists (second).
Needless to say, the former first overall pick is living up to the billing as one of the league's most dynamic players.
