WNBA champions Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu showed their appreciation for their fans by personally greeting them during the New York Liberty trophy parade.
Fresh from securing the franchise’s first-ever championship on Sunday (October 20), when they triumphed over the Minnesota Lynx 3-2 in the WNBA Finals, the basketball sensations took time to interact with their supporters.
This marks a third overall title for Stewart, 30, who previously won two championships with the Seattle Storm, and a debut win for Ionescu, 26, who was the top pick by the New York team in the 2020 WNBA Draft.
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Joined by their teammates, the duo rode the bus through Manhattan, basking in the adoration of thousands of fans who turned out to celebrate the return of a basketball title to New York.
As dedicated fans showered them with confetti from a balcony above the parade route and unfurled a banner reading “We love New York Liberty”, Stewart and Ionescu spontaneously jumped off their floats to mingle with the crowd, reports the Irish Star.
Their enthusiastic greetings and high-fives with excited fans earned the pair heaps of praise on social media. One user wrote: “That’s awesome! True ambassadors of the sport. Another simply added: “Love this”.
Not only are these franchise players considered among the best in the league, but it’s their character that former teammates and coaches have identified as the driving force behind their success.
Kelly Sopak, who coached Ionescu from her childhood through to college, couldn’t praise her enough for her engaging nature and coachability. “She’s such an incredible ambassador for the game itself,” he said.
“The team is so approachable, that’s why people feel a part of their journey. And she’s very approachable and that trickles down. It’s contagious and infectious. She’s obviously had really cool parenting and coaching along the way, and that’s helped keep her humble and still hungry.
“That fits in with Kobe and LeBron, it’s cool that they’re validating her as a player, but I don’t think she needs them in that regard. But it’s super cool that they’re paying attention to that and recognizing that.”
The WNBA duo delivered a first title for the New York Liberty (
Getty Images)
Epiphanny Prince, a former teammate, spoke highly of Stewart’s unwavering belief and big heart, which have made her a favorite among her peers and WNBA fans alike.
The 2020 WNBA champion and current New York Liberty’s Director of Player and Community Engagement, Prince bragged about Stewart’s competitive spirit. “If we went down by 20 points in the fourth quarter, she’s still telling us we can win,” she shared with The Next.
“I say that word because it’s just like she believes that she can beat anybody and anything that you put in front of her. She’s going to overcome.”
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