Sabrina Ionescu had one response after Breanna Stewart offered to share Commissioner’s Cup MVP originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New York Liberty took down another WNBA Commissioner’s Cup title on Tuesday night, but one of the most memorable moments came after the final buzzer. Following New York‘s 93-85 victory over the Las Vegas Aces, Breanna Stewart was named the game’s Most Valuable Player after another dominant performance. Before accepting the trophy from WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, however, Stewart turned to teammate Sabrina Ionescu with an offer that highlighted the chemistry between the Liberty’s two stars.
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Ionescu’s response left little doubt about who she believed deserved the honor.
Breanna Stewart wanted to share the MVP trophy
Stewart finished the championship game with 25 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks, earning her second career Commissioner’s Cup MVP award. But before taking possession of the trophy, Stewart walked over to Ionescu and suggested they share it.
“I was just telling Sab, she deserves this, too,” Stewart said after the game. “So we can share this. You can take it home. We can share it.”
The gesture came after Ionescu delivered one of her best performances of the season, leading the Liberty with 26 points while knocking down five 3-pointers. She also added five rebounds and five assists, including a clutch three-pointer in the closing seconds that helped seal New York’s victory.
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Despite Stewart’s generous offer, Ionescu immediately declined, shaking her head while making it clear the award belonged to her teammate. Earlier in the trophy presentation, Ionescu was also among the Liberty players loudly chanting “MVP!” as Stewart walked forward to accept the honor.
HERE: WNBA fans boo Cathy Engelbert during Commissioner’s Cup trophy presentation after controversial week
Liberty stars continue to show championship chemistry
The exchange served as another example of the selfless approach that has helped make New York one of the WNBA’s elite teams. Rather than focusing on individual accolades, both players were quick to credit each other after helping the Liberty secure their second Commissioner’s Cup championship in franchise history. New York previously won the in-season tournament in 2023, when Jonquel Jones earned MVP honors.
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For Stewart, Tuesday’s award added another milestone to an already decorated résumé. The two-time WNBA MVP also captured Commissioner’s Cup MVP honors with the Seattle Storm in 2021, making her the first player to win the award twice and the only player to win three Commissioner’s Cup championships.
New York turns attention to Minnesota
The Liberty won’t have much time to celebrate. New York returns to regular-season action Friday night when it hosts the Minnesota Lynx in a matchup between two of the WNBA’s top contenders.
If Tuesday’s championship performance was any indication, the Liberty will head into that showdown with plenty of confidence, and with the same unselfish mindset that was on display during Stewart and Ionescu’s memorable postgame exchange.
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