While in Manila, WNBA superstar Sabrina Ionescu took the time to share her thoughts on the beloved game of basketball.
Sabrina Ionescu believes in the power of basketball to unite different cultures.
Asked about the ‘Pinoy Step’ — a defensive move popularized in the Philippines that made its way to the NBA — at a media interview during her 2025 Sabrina Manila Tour, she acknowledged the move as a sign of how the sport can break barriers between communities.
“I love it,” said Sabrina. “I think you’re able to see a lot of athletes using that, continuing to grow their game, their skill set from what they’re picking up from different parts of the world…
“You learn a skill that helps you on the court,” she continued, “I’m able to kind of take that and bring it home with me, and I think that’s really the fun part of basketball, is just how universal the language is.”
Passion for basketball has, indeed, been the common denominator between her and her adoring Filipino fans during her trip to Manila, the first stop of her 2025 tour around Asia.
The New York Liberty guard spent her first day in the country engaging in a panel interview with local basketball stars and hosting a basketball clinic in BGC for Filipina athletes, and she has been able to feel the Philippines’ undying love for the sport.
“I think my favorite experience from being here is the basketball culture and being able to see the support that the fans have showed,” she shared.
“I would say just being able to be here in person and take it all in has been the most exciting part. Obviously, the fan love and support is kind of like none other. So it’s been really fun to see that firsthand and kind of be able to give back to the community here.”
A WNBA Champion and an Olympic gold medalist, Ionescu is one of the most influential female basketball players of this generation. One of her shining moments was when she came close to beating Stephen Curry at the first-ever NBA vs. WNBA 3-Point Challenge in 2024, proving her mettle even against one of the most prolific players in the sport.
(If given the chance to face any player in a three-point shootout contest, she shared with members of Philippine media that she would choose Curry again for a shot at redemption.)
With her glowing career, she has become a role model to female athletes all over the world, and her popularity is just one measure of the progress of women’s sports.
Feeling the love
From fan attendance to streaming figures to sponsorships, Sabrina Ionescu sees records being broken often in the WNBA.
“It’s been huge to see the growth in such a short amount of time. And obviously, being a part of this league and being able to kind of see it firsthand is really exciting,” said the 5-foot-11 star.
“From when I came in to where I’m at now, seeing the coverage, the investment, the viewership continues to peak every single time we play, and I feel like we continue to break records every single night. So it’s been really fun to see how investment has really played a huge role in where we’re at right now.”
The WNBA’s growth has been exponential in recent years, and fan-favorite players like Sabrina are helping to push the league forward. In fact, a big topic for debate among basketball fans is the budding rivalry between Ionescu and Caitlin Clark, another impactful player whose popularity has also taken women’s basketball to another level.
“I think that’s kind of the fun part of kind of being a part of a league now where there’s many teams who continue to beat each other in the finals and there’s rivalries. And that’s kind of a story that obviously the fans love to engage with,” said Sabrina.
Skillful players like herself breathe life into storylines that fans can connect with — so much so that it its popularity is breaking into regions outside of the United States.
As Sabrina revealed, “For me, it’s a blessing even to be here on the streets and see how many people have my jersey and are wearing gear from when I was at Oregon to New York to USA jerseys. So it’s been really kind of an honor to see that love all the way here in Manila.”
Sabrina’s signature sneaker has also become a cult favorite among basketball players in the Philippines.
With the widespread popularity of the Nike Sabrina line, local basketball brand TITAN partnered with Nike for a limited-edition version of the Sabrina 2 sneaker, designed by three Filipina artists.
“Being able to understand what the shoe means, you know, to understand the women that put a lot of hard work, time, dedication, and inspiration in my shoe to be able to tell a story that’s bigger than myself and understanding the community that it’s going to impact…It’s been a blessing to have the collaboration with TITAN on my shoe,” she reflected.
But this is more than just an ego boost for the three-time WNBA All-Star. Beyond this, she recognizes the importance of tapping into different places around the world and inspiring kids to play and reach for their dreams.
All for progress
Sabrina Ionescu’s trip around Asia is about more than just signing shoes and showing off her shooting prowess (though these are definite pluses that her fans are enjoying). Beyond this, the WNBA Champ wants players around the world to keep their dreams alive.
“I think that can take on a life of its own in different countries and continuing to push the game forward,” she explained.
By connecting with players from different countries like the Philippines, she is continuing to spread the popularity of the game and inspire more young athletes to pursue their dreams — because although the game has grown by leaps and bounds already, there is still a lot more room to keep going.
“We’re at the point where we’re at in women’s sports and basketball, but we’re far kind of to where we want to go. There’s still so much more that we want to accomplish and continuing to fight for equality and continuing to grow the game in different areas aside from the United States. And so for us, it’s kind of that understanding of enjoying the moment where you’re at right now but not being satisfied with just that and wanting to continue to get better.”
Sabrina Ionescu remains confident that progress will continue to unfold. As doors continue to open, players should always stay ready to take the next step, and she encourages athletes to keep striving to become the best versions of themselves.
If there is any advice she could give to young players, it’s this: “I would say just continuing to believe in yourself, have the confidence to go out there and do whatever you can to be the best version of yourself and never losing sight of who you are as an individual.
“And I think that’s really important when you have big dreams and goals and aspirations is not getting too down when you aren’t achieving them but continuing to just fight for it and one day they’ll all happen.”
Images taken by Kieran Punay of KLIQ Inc.