Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu is reaching new heights in her fourth WNBA season.
The former No. 1 overall pick, who broke numerous records during her college years at Oregon, rewrote even more history in the 2023 WNBA season, including a historic showing in the 3-point contest and a WNBA record 128 3s during the season. And during each historic moment, Ionescu had her own signature sneakers on her feet.
Announced in February and officially unveiled in March, the Sabrina 1 is a shoe with a sleek low-top silhouette tailored for Ionescu's game.
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The shoe places Ionescu in rare air as one of a shortlist of Nike's active signature athletes and the second active WNBA athlete along with Mystics star Elena Delle Donne.
With the shoe slated to release late in the summer, Ionescu was fittingly the first to debut her signature sneaker, wearing them for Liberty media day on May 7 and then bringing them out for the team's home opener on May 21.
Once Ionescu debuted her sneakers, they quickly became popular among other Nike athletes who received early access to the shoe. And there's no greater stamp of approval than that of other athletes who are competing at the highest level.
When Ionescu threw the first pitch at a Yankees game in late July, members of the baseball team were photographed wearing the Sabrina 1 in the dugout. In early August, Pistons standout Cade Cunningham made the Sabrina 1 his sneaker of choice when he suited up for the Select Team tasked with helping the United States Senior National Team prepare for the FIBA World Cup.
And speaking of Team USA, Nets forward — and Liberty superfan — Mikal Bridges often opted for the Sabrina 1 in World Cup practice. As it turns out, he appeared to be getting comfortable with the sneaker for the upcoming NBA season.
Bridges, who wore the Sabrina 1 during media day, shared that the sneaker will be one of his go-to's during the 2023-24 NBA season.
"Got the Sabrina 1s on right now," Bridges said at media day. "I'm going to have some crazy ones this season … Yes [I'll be wearing Sabrinas this season] — pretty much them and I'm going to test out those Devin Booker 1s when they come out, too."
In addition to Bridges, Cavaliers forward Max Strus had the Sabrina 1s on foot at media day, an indication that Ionescu's sneaker will be popular among her NBA counterparts and beyond during the 2023-24 season.
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We're sure to see the sneaker in the college ranks as well, as incoming Kentucky freshman Rob Dillingham is clearly a fan and you can expect her alma mater to get some exclusive Oregon Ducks colorways.
The widespread popularity of the Sabrina 1 speaks volumes about Ionescu's standing as one of the game's biggest stars and the overall comfort and performance of the sneaker itself.
After making history throughout the regular season, all that's left for Ionescu is to hoist the WNBA championship trophy while wearing the Sabrina 1.
