New York Liberty point guard Sabrina Ionescu casually name-drops Shai Gilgeous-Alexander referring to players having 16 fouls in a game

NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s relevance doesn’t wear out even amongst the WNBA players while reflecting on the latter player’s performance in the recent matches. Gilgeous Alexander recently led his team Oklahoma City Thunder, into the NBA finals after defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals.

While fans are still reliving the achievement, New York Liberty point guard Sabrina Ionescu, in her recent press meet, jokingly named the Thunder player when asked about any player who has drawn 16 fouls.

NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander named while discussing about Breanna Stewart drawing 16 fouls in their game against the Golden State Valkyries

The New York Liberty kicked off their journey in the WNBA 2025 season with a 6-0 record, with their recent win coming against the Washington Mystics on May 30, 2025. Sabrina Ionescu remains the highest scorer of the match with 28 points, 3 rebounds and 5 assists, followed by Jonquel Jones with 14 points, 18 rebounds and 3 assists. While referring to their previous game against the Golden State Valkyries, where forward player Breanna Stewart led the team to victory with 27 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists, the team’s head coach, Sandy Brondello, was asked about Stewie’s scores which came from the free throw line, additionally asking her to name any player she has seen drawing 16 fouls till date. The coach was strategically giving her reply, when point guard Ionescu dropped in between to take NBA legend Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s name, “SGA”

The reply cracked a laugh across the room, including the Liberty coach.

Gilgeous-Alexander is known for his gameplay, which involves foul-baiting and earning free throws, which has led him to be known as the free-throw merchant. In the current season, the player has made 601 free throws, surpassing the Los Angeles Clippers point guard, James Harden, who has 505.Stewart, in her game against the Valkyries, drew as many as 16 fouls, out of which she could convert just 15, racking up a score of a mere 9 points in the first half.

Stewie roared back into the second half, taking her score to 27 and leading the team to a much-deserved victory.Also read: Steven A Smith says only divine intervention can make New York Knicks win NBA championship: “I give them zero chance”With a grand start to the 2025 WNBA season, the New York Liberty is looking ahead for a second championship title. The team currently stands at a win-loss stat of 6-0 and will be facing the Connecticut Sun next. The liberty lost to the Sun during the WNBA preseason in May 2025.