Sabrina Ionescu is top notch talent. She is looked upon as one of the greatest female collegiate players and now it is time to take things to the next level. Being picked #1 overall by the New York Liberty this year, Ionescu has some big shoes to fill once her WNBA career officially begins.

New York is going in a total different direction after the drafting of Sabrina. After not qualifying for the postseason the past two seasons, the Liberty made some drastic changes over the offseason. It’s clear that the team is in full rebuild mode looking ahead into the future. Sabrina will most certainly be in the middle of all the success New York looks to have for years to come.

Looking at Sabrina through college, she has a LeBron James effect on the basketball floor. Obviously, she doesn’t have the same athleticism, but her ability to dominate along with make her teammates better is beyond incredible.

Sabrina is one of those players who is always aware of what is going on on the basketball floor. She understands the right time to pass and the perfect time to find an open teammate. She has been known as the triple-double Queen for various reasons. Her significant basketball IQ was a huge part in her leadership as a teammate and it helped Oregon gain much success through the years.

Heading to New York, the world should expect Sabrina to be that floor general that is much needed. The dynamic backcourt of Sabrina and Kia Nurse could be a great one to watch this year. Nurse is a player who tends to get hot from three point range when she gets open looks. As versatile as Sabrina can be, Nurse will get easier opportunities this season than she did a season ago. And the same can be for the rest of her teammates as well. Coach Walt Hopkins should put his 100% trust in Sabrina being ball dominant make plays happen on every possession.

It’s been a gruesome two seasons of losing for the Liberty. But what if a rookie came in and turned the franchise into a winning culture again. For those who have watched Sabrina, she is a winner at heart and always looks to win the war of each matchup. With the departure of Tina Charles to Washington, there needs to be a new leader to set the tone as far as assertiveness.

Sabrina can certainly become a new vocal leader once she gains the upmost respect of her teammates. Although there are many competitive players on this Liberty roster, the only thing is they do not seem to make the same impact that Sabrina will certainly do once she steps out on the floor. It will be only a matter of time before her winning mentality rubs off on the rest of the team around her.

Sabrina Ionescu is the best #1 pick in the WNBA in such a long time. Since her college days began, media members and outsiders all predicted her to become an all time great as time went on. Now it is up for her to change the game with her competitive drive and her high IQ. New York may not be a championship contender this season, but they will certainly be on the improving side with the drafting of Sabrina.