Sabrina Ionescu Debunks Every Women's Basketball Myth

Hi, Glamour.

I'm a professional basketball player, Sabrina Ionescu,

and today I'm gonna be debunking some myths

about women's basketball.

[smooth mellow music]

So there are three categories of questions,

some about the WNBA, some about the sport of basketball,

and some about identity.

[smooth upbeat music]

Female players are paid less than male players.

This is true.

The NBA pay salary is a lot higher

than the WNBA pay salary.

Obviously, the goal is for women to continue

to get paid more, and doing what we can.

Using our platforms to advocate for change,

and continuing to try and grow the game.

WNBA players aren't as aggressive on the court

as NBA players.

That is not true.

Every player's different, so I think some players

play with more aggression, some play more finesse.

It's really dependent on the player,

not necessarily what league you play in.

I believe some WNBA players are more aggressive on the court

than NBA players.

I would say I'm more aggressive.

I like to take the contact, give contact as well,

and try and finish through it.

Playing internationally is more profitable

than playing in the US.

This also just depends who you are

and where you go internationally.

A lot of players who go to certain cities

that do pay more than in the league,

but it just depends the type of player you are

and what point you are in your career.

A lot of the younger players could potentially

make more money overseas,

and some of the older players do decide to stay

because they make enough money here.

It's easier to make three pointers in the WNBA

because the line is closer.

I don't think so.

Obviously we play with a smaller ball

and the lines a little bit closer,

but I shoot from behind the line anyway,

so I don't think it's much of a difference.

It's what we've grown up playing on that court

with that three-point line,

and so I don't think it makes it easier or harder.

I think it's just what you're used to,

and how you've been able to train.

My tip would be you have to be really good

around the basket, so you gotta work on form shots

and make sure that you're good from the free-throw line

in order to be great from the three-point line.

The basketball program you attend in college

determines how successful you would be in the WNBA.

I don't think this is true.

I think it plays a part in your development in college

and being able to play at the highest level in college

against some of the players you're gonna be playing

in the league for sure helps,

but I don't think it's the end-all, be-all

on how great of a player you're gonna be in the WNBA.

Let's move on with questions about the sport of basketball.

[smooth upbeat music]

You have to be over six feet to dunk.

I think it helps, but I don't think you have to be

over six feet to dunk.

I'm not sure I've met anyone under six feet

that dunk in the WNBA,

but I do know it has happened in the NBA.

So I think it's really just a matter of how athletic you are

and how high you can jump,

not necessarily how tall you are.

You're under this pressure to dunk at such a young age.

There are a lot of players that do dunk,

there's some players that dunk in-game,

but I don't think there's much of a pressure.

It's the same amount of points as a layup.

It's just a lot flashier.

Playing offense is more difficult than playing defense.

That's not true.

I believe they're both really difficult.

It's just a different skillset.

Obviously offense, you're trying to get the ball

in the basket, and so there's a lot more skill

and technique that goes into it.

On defense, it's more of like a team defense,

especially in basketball.

You have to rely on the people behind the ball,

your post players.

Communication is super important on defense

just because you're not seeing what's happening behind you.

Usually the arenas are really loud,

so it takes all five people on the court

talking in unison to be able to get the job done.

[Interviewer] What's like your favorite chant

that you hear from the crowd?

Let's go, Liberty!

[Interviewer] That's psyches you up?

That works?

That works every time.

I'm ready to go.

Shooting is the most important skill

to master in basketball.

I think it just depends on

the type of player you are.

If you are a big man down low,

usually shooting doesn't need to be

your most important skill.

You know, your most important skill needs to be

finishing around the basket.

And if you're a guard, sometimes that could be

point guard skills, and handling the ball.

For me, passing is one of my most important skills.

Being able to get my teammates open

just creates a threat for the opposing team.

If I'm not shooting the ball well

or if I'm guarded really hard, it's really nice

to be able to use my passing ability to help my team win.

Growing up, you have to play on an AAU team

to play D1 in college.

I don't think you necessarily have to play

on an AAU team.

Obviously, I think it helps because on the AAU circuit

a lot of the times is when there's

college viewing tournaments and college coaches are coming

in attendance to watch a lot of the teams.

So I would say most of the time,

99% of the time, a player that goes to college

has played AAU basketball

because it's year-round, and you're always playing

against the best competition in the country.

I think the more you can be playing basketball

and be seen on the highest level

and playing against the best competition, always the better.

You shouldn't wear a rival player's signature shoe.

Well, if you're a signature athlete,

you definitely can't.

But if you are not, I believe it's up to you.

A lot of players wear their favorite players' shoe

because they wanna represent them and support them.

But I've seen players wear all kinds of shoes.

I've worn every single player's shoe

at some point in my career,

and I think the more shoes you could wear, the better,

because you're able to see what you like on your feet.

There's so much technology built in these shoes

that I think it's just dependent on what you like,

and what helps you the most on the court.

Now I'll have some questions

about the identity in the sport.

Female athletes are all tomboys.

No, this is not true.

I feel like everyone has the opportunity

to be who they wanna be,

and basketball has definitely opened my eyes

to just being able to see how so many individuals

are able to express themselves, and across all sports.

I think that's been the power of sport

is just being true to who you are.

And whether that's a tomboy, a girly girl,

I don't think it really matters.

If you aren't at least six foot,

you probably won't be successful in the WNBA.

This is not true.

There's so many players under six foot

that have had amazing careers.

I don't think it's a matter of height.

It's really just a matter of like will

and wanting to be great, and putting the work in.

Obviously if you're very, very short,

I think it could put you at a disadvantage.

But if you're really fast and quick and have great skillset,

I don't think it really matters how tall you are

as long as you have the skills to be able

to be a great basketball player.

Female athletes don't have as much swag as male athletes.

I think female athletes have more swag sometimes

than male athletes because they are able to

express themselves however they want.

And I don't think it really matters

whether you're a female or a male.

I think it's just being who you wanna be,

and representing that on and off the court.

The Liberty is a swaggy team.

Pregame fits, everyone always comes, does not disappoint.

Everyone's in their best outfit,

especially since we're in New York.

I feel like you have to come ready for the game.

The WNBA has only been around for 20 plus years,

and so it's still growing and evolving.

But I would say especially in New York,

here at Barclay Center,

we had 11,000 plus fans the other night.

And so women's sports is definitely up and coming,

but teams and players are definitely wanting to come here

because of the fan base that we have

supporting women's basketball.

Thanks so much for watching,

and I'll see you on the court.

Bye, and go, Liberty! [smooth mellow music]