Liberty's Sabrina Ionescu is NBA 2K's Next Cover Athlete
The latest edition of the NBA2K video game franchise will be getting a seafoam-branded makeover, as New York Liberty point guard Sabrina Ionescu will appear on the cover for NBA2K24's "WNBA Edition."
Ionescu, recently named to her second All-Star Game, is in the midst of her third full season with the Liberty after arriving as the top pick of the 2020 WNBA Draft. She joins Candace Parker, Sue Bird, and Diana Taurasi as WNBA cover stars in the long-running 2K series.
The honor is likely an emotional one for Ionescu, who will grace 2K covers alongside the late Kobe Bryant. As she carried on her basketball journey through Walnut Creek, CA and later the University of Oregon, Ionescu shared a close working relationship with the Los Angeles Lakers superstar and maintains strong contact with his family to this day.
NBA2K24 will release on Sept. 8 for all major consoles and platforms. The game is set to be partly a tribute to Bryant, said to include a feature known as "Mamba Moments" that will allow players to re-create some of the superstar's finest NBA hours.
As the homegrown headliner of the new-look Liberty, Ionescu is averaging 14.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.9 assists this season. Over her first 15 games, Ionescu set a career-best with 37 points in a June 9 win in Atlanta, which also saw her set a new franchise record with eight triples in a single game. Later that month, Ionescu became the fastest guard in WNBA history to reach 500 rebounds, needing only 80 games to do so.
Though Ionescu wasn't among the 10 All-Star starters, she was grateful that her efforts were recognized by the WNBA's head coaches, who determined the reserves that will accompany the fan-voted 10 into Las Vegas.
"I'm super thankful. I know my worth and I'm happy that the coaches see that as well," Ionescu said after the Liberty's narrow Wednesday victory over the Phoenix Mercury. " Anytime that you're able to make an All-Star Game, It's always an honor and humbling experience. Obviously, coming into this season, it was something that was a goal of mine, to be able to come in and do it again, and not really take the foot off the gas, continue to build my career, and get better every single game."
"I'm super thankful for those that voted, the fan votes, the media votes, everyone that voted and had a role in my second appearance."
Ionescu and the Liberty (12-4) will return to action on Saturday afternoon when they take on the Seattle Storm at Barclays Center (2 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
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