When Sabrina Ionescu was a child, the WNBA wasn’t as prominent as the league is today, when it garners increased exposure and rights fees from ESPN. Back when she and twin brother Eddy were battling each other and unwitting marks in pickup games around the San Francisco Bay Area, Ionescu knew she wanted to play professionally one day. Whether that meant the NBA, the WNBA or something else, she didn’t care — she just wanted to play. And yet: The first jersey Ionescu ever owned was the No. 25 sported by Becky Hammon with the WNBA’s San Antonio Stars. Fast forward a few years, and Ionescu later this week will be able to put on a WNBA jersey with her own name on the back. The league will hold its draft Friday evening (4 p.m. PT, ESPN) and Ionescu is widely expected to be selected No. 1 overall by the New York Liberty. Some projections have the Dallas Wings taking Satou Sabally with the second pick overall, and the third member of the “Big Three” from Oregon women’s basketball, Ruthy Hebard, is projected as a first-round pick as well.
