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Sabrina Ionescu Under Fire For Her Behavior Amid 46-Point Lead

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Chris Phelps | Last updated Jun 1, 2025 10:42 PM ET

Sabrina Ionescu and the New York Liberty continued their stellar run to begin the 2025 WNBA season, remaining undefeated through seven games.

On Sunday, Ionescu and the Liberty jumped to a league-best 7-0 with a 100-52 win over the Connecticut Sun.

Ionescu finished the game with 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting, five assists and two steals. But it was her actions with a 46-point lead that caught attention.

With 5:42 remaining in the third quarter and New York holding a 74-28 lead, Ionescu was called for a foul after blocking a Marina Mabrey 3-pointer.

The challenge was successful and the call was overturned, prompting Ionescu to run around the court, pumping her fists in celebration. The former Oregon star even ran to her coaching staff and aggressively high-fived each one.

"When the challenge is successful," the Liberty joked on X with a video of Ionescu's celebration.

When the challenge is successful pic.twitter.com/6B0smKIn7X
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) June 1, 2025

WNBA fans were not pleased with Ionescu's "embarrassing" celebration with such a large lead, taking to social media to leave their thoughts.

"You’d never see a NBA player celebrate a successful challenge like this in a close game of the NBA finals let alone a regular season game where they are up 45+ Absolutely embarrassing," one fan said.

"This is embarrassing," added another.

"What a clown show," wrote a third.

"That’s…kind of cringe," commented a fourth.

"This was very weird," posted a fifth.

"Caitlin would never show this kind of class," claimed a sixth.

Ionescu helped lead the Liberty to the 2024 WNBA championship, securing her first title. Now aiming for back-to-back championships, she and New York are off to a strong start.

Up next for the Liberty, a battle with the Washington Mystics in the nation's capital on Thursday.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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