Ionescu and Laney headed to Sydney

Liberty All-Stars to compete at 2022 Women's World Cup

September 21, 2022 John Torenli, Sports Editor

Sabrina Ionescu was named to the All-WNBA Second Team last week and will now join Team USA in Sydney, Australia this week for the FIBA Women's World Cup. AP Photo by Noah K. Murray

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All-Star point guard Sabrina Ionescu and New York Liberty teammate Betnijah Laney were selected Monday to represent Team USA at the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup, which will begin in Sydney, Australia this week.

Both Liberty standouts will be representing the U.S. in international competition for the first time after helping New York earn a first-round playoff berth this past season at Downtown’s Barclays Center.

“We have been eagerly anticipating the 2022 FIBA World Cup and welcome the opportunities and challenges this competition presents as we face the world’s best teams,” said Team USA head coach Cheryl Reeve.

“The U.S. roster features some of our game’s brightest stars and I’m excited to lead this team with the goal of winning a fourth consecutive World Cup for the USA. I want to express my gratitude to everyone who was part of our highly competitive training camp and hope to work with many of them again in the future.”

The roster was selected by the USA Basketball Women’s National Team Committee.

Ionescu, a four-time Eastern Conference Player of the Week and two-time Player of the Month following her best season on the circuit, became the eighth Liberty player to earn All-WNBA Second Team honors last week.

“I’m honored to be named to the All-WNBA Second Team alongside some of the league’s very best,” said Ionescu.

“Coming into this year healthy was a difference-maker, and I feel like we’ve only scratched the surface as to what we can accomplish together. As exciting as this award is, I’m even more excited for the future of the New York Liberty organization.”

Limited due to injury during the Liberty’s regular season, former All-Star Betnijah Laney will represent New York at the 2022 Women’s World Cup in Sydney, Australia this week. AP Photo by John Minchillo

Laney, an All-Star in 2021 and a driving force behind New York’s late playoff push this season, missed most of the 2022 regular season with an ankle injury.

She and Ionescu will join their 10 teammates in Sydney for their opening game Wednesday night at 9:30 p.m. ET.

“On behalf of USA Basketball, I’m thrilled to announce the 2022 USA Women’s World Cup Team,” said USA Basketball Women’s National Team Committee chair Jen Rizzotti.

“I want to personally thank each of the athletes who have been part of this process, from those who started at the Las Vegas training camp more than two weeks ago to those boarding flights to Sydney following the WNBA Finals. The commitment these athletes show to their country is unparalleled and I look forward to watching them take the court in Sydney.”

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In local college sports news, the defending Northeast Conference champion Long Island University men’s soccer team will enter its league schedule on a season-high four-game winning streak.

Robert Winkler, Matthias Heiland, Emil Jaaskelainen, Papa Sow and Michael Principe scored Tuesday afternoon as the Sharks posted their largest margin of victory in six years with a 5-0 rout of Hartford in Brookville, N.Y.

The LIU Sharks had plenty to celebrate Tuesday afternoon as they trounced visiting Hartford, 5-0, in their non-conference finale. Photo courtesy of LIU Athletics

LIU (6-2), which also rolled through Sacred Heart 5-0 in 2016, got seven saves from goalie Julian Quaresima in his first career start.

Preseason favorites to repeat as NEC champs, the Sharks will begin the true defense of their title Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m., when they host Central Connecticut State.