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Sabrina Ionescu’s Teammate Issues Statement Before Opening Night

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Rowan Fisher-Shotton | Last updated May 15, 2025 8:58 PM ET

As the New York Liberty prepare to tip off their 2025 WNBA title defense on May 17, guard Jaylyn Sherrod made a statement as she prepares for her second year in the league.

Undrafted out of Colorado in 2024, Sherrod earned multiple seven-day contracts, contributed off the bench and became a WNBA champion in her rookie season.

In 2025, she'll look to build off her modest playing time from last season, playing behind WNBA superstar Sabrina Ionescu.

Drafted first overall by New York in 2020, Ionescu is a three-time All-Star (2022-2024), a 2023 WNBA Three-Point Shootout champion, and led New York to its first championship in 2024.

Sherrod took to X on Thursday to signal the dawn of her second pro season with the caption, "YEAR TWO BABY ".

YEAR TWO BABY . pic.twitter.com/zFeHXyXtgD
— Jaylyn Sherrod (@JaylynSherrod) May 15, 2025

Sherrod, a 5-foot-7 point guard, ended her collegiate career at Colorado as second in program history in career assists (645), fifth in steals (274), and 14th in scoring (1,483).

The Liberty, coached by Sandy Brondello, dominated the 2024 regular season (32-8, 1st in the East) and overcame Minnesota in a dramatic five-game Finals, with Finals MVP Jonquel Jones pacing the charge.

New York clinched Game 5 with a 67-62 OT victory despite Ionescu’s 1-for-19 shooting night.

Looking ahead to the 2025 season, New York enters as the league’s preseason favorite, per ESPN.

The off-season addition of 2022 WNBA assists leader Natasha Cloud from Phoenix further bolsters perimeter depth, while Jones, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton and 2023 MVP Breanna Stewart look to lock down a championship-tested frontcourt.

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

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