Sabrina Ionescu hit the biggest shot of her career, and arguably of New York Liberty history, on Wednesday night.
With the game tied 77-77, Ionescu pulled up from nearly half court at the Target Center in Minnesota with three seconds left and drained a three-pointer, securing in Game 3 of the 2024 WNBA Finals for the Liberty. With the 80-77 win, New York has a 2-1 series lead over the Minnesota Lynx.
To hit the game-winning shot, Ionescu had her Nike Sabrina 2 signature shoe laced up in a colorway inspired by the her college team, the Oregon Ducks. The look was predominantly dressed in the green hue that’s synonymous with her alma mater, with white consuming most of the midsole and hits of yellow throughout.
In terms of tech, Nike designed the Sabrina 2 with plush Cushlon 3.0 foam midsoles that are contained within a firmer Cushlon foam carrier, as well as a Nike Zoom Air unit in the forefoot for energy return and responsiveness. Also, there are rubber outsoles underfoot with a new “S”-inspired herringbone pattern for multidirectional traction.
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The Nike Sabrina 2 “Oregon Ducks” is slated to release this fall. Several other colorways of the shoe are available now via Nike.com that retail for $130.
Ionescu and the Liberty will look to close out the series with the Lynx — and win the franchise’s first-ever WNBA title — on Friday night at the Target Center. Game time is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET and will air on ESPN.
About the Author
Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.
