Basketball was the only thing on Sabrina Ionescu’s mind when I caught up with her during her first-ever Nike Asia Tour back in March. And that’s no surprise to anyone who’s followed her journey since her University of Oregon days. One thing about Sab?
She’s been dedicated to defining the game long before she joined the WNBA. Now, in her sixth season in the league and with the New York Liberty, that same fire still burns.
So when the iconic Swoosh brand invited me to follow Sabrina to the Philippines and China and interview her across the globe, it was a no-brainer—especially since it meant visiting my roots for the first time (don’t get me started on what that soul-shaking, “Is this actually happening?” homecoming was like).
Halfway across the world, I witnessed with my own eyes the magnetic pull she has on people abroad. It was one of the most moving experiences of my life, and it wasn’t even about me.
Watching Sabrina connect with kids, fans, and communities felt bigger than basketball—it was about grit, hope, and being seen and heard in places that often feel invisible. From high-energy clinics and camps to a roaring stadium appearance in Manila and heartfelt moments with supporters in Guangzhou, her reach is undeniable.
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As a Filipino-American woman who also came from a first-generation family like the point guard, there’s no other way to put it: it hit different. The number of times I teared up when she interacted with people who look like me, who see themselves in her hustle and her confidence, like I do?
Too many to count. The whole week was emotional. Because as much as representation matters, presence—and showing up in real life—is everything. And Sabrina? She always gives her everything, on the hardwood and off.
But I didn’t fly halfway around the world to ask the same questions she gets asked over and over again. In such a special moment like this, it was only right to go a bit deeper. We all know Sabrina, the hooper. But what about Sabrina, the first-gen Romanian girl from the Bay, the newlywed, the TikTok lover who finds fashion inspo from the clock app like the rest of us?
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Over the week, we got to talking. Not gonna lie, it wasn’t easy at first. It took a minute to get her to step back, because this isn’t just her 9-to-5 that pays the bills—it’s all-encompassing. In a lot of ways, it’s who she is. But after spending nearly every waking moment together in foreign countries where we were sweating buckets in sticky 90-degree weather and getting barely any sleep for almost seven days straight, we eventually got to her core (you could say we’re basically bestie travel buddies at this point).
We talked about what grounds her, what motivates her, and how she handles the pressure of being more than just an athlete. Her parents and tenacious immigrant upbringing came up, along with identity, growing up in the Bay Area, and what it means to lead by example for girls she may never even meet. On top of all that, we also chatted about love, where she opened up about being a wife with a non-stop schedule. It was a conversation that let me see Sabrina just as Sabrina—no stats or highlight reels involved—and it made me appreciate her dedication and heart even more.
I’m Filipino, and I grew up loving basketball because that’s what being Filipino is all about. What is it about this fan base that stands out amongst others?
Their love and dedication to the game are ingrained in the culture. A passion for basketball starts at a young age for them—you live it, you breathe it. It’s been amazing to see that firsthand. You hear about it, catch glimpses on social media, but to dive into the culture, be on the ground, and witness how these kids eat, sleep, and breathe basketball? It’s special. And hopefully, we can bring some of that passion back to the U.S., because there’s something truly inspiring here.
The Bay Area has a lot of Asian communities filled with Filipinos, Chinese, and more. How did growing up among them influence how you play, think, and show up in the world?
You nailed it—it’s a place where people come from different backgrounds, each with their own story, but all come together on the basketball court with the shared goal of being the best. Growing up there, basketball shaped who I am as a person, instilling that tough, gritty mentality to always strive to be the best on the court. The competition is fierce, and it’s been exciting to see how the scene has evolved. Even though I’m not there anymore, it’s great to see a new [WNBA] team, the Valkyries, emerging, and the continued rise of sports in that area.
