Ionescu’s new reality is ‘not too different’

Anything can fade away inside the lines. The death of a friend. The death of a dream. The record-setting COVID-19 cases surrounding IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., where No. 1-overall pick Sabrina Ionescu will play her rookie season.

Even after multiple days in quarantine, even in isolation, the new face of the Liberty is where she always wanted to be.

“Just walking into the hotel and seeing all the WNBA posters and signs was really awesome and kind of that moment when I was like, ‘Wow, I’m actually in the best professional league in the world,’ ” Ionescu said on a Zoom call Monday. “I had to wait four days to meet the rest of the team, but that first time of us all being around each other was so fun, and having the entire coaching staff here and just being able to be in the same room and share what we’ve been going through these last two-to-three months and how excited we are to get

together and all get on the same page while we’re here.”

The former Oregon star — who lost friend and mentor Kobe Bryant in a helicopter crash, then lost her chance to bring the 31-2 Ducks to a second straight Final Four and first-ever women’s title, following the cancelation of the NCAA Tournament — was supposed to make her professional debut in mid-May, playing at Barclays Center.

Now, Ionescu and the Liberty

will kick off the league’s abbreviated regular season — each team will play 22 games — in an empty gym against the Seattle Storm on July 25.

“I don’t really mind not playing in front of fans,” Ionescu said. “The way that I practice and play is not really dependent on who is watching.”

Ionescu was in a bubble before there was a pandemic.

“It’s honestly not too different. We can get into the gym here and get shots up, go back, watch film and do the same thing the next day,” Ionescu said. “That’s definitely what I’m used to.”

The future of the Liberty franchise doesn’t feel the stress of stardom, joining an inexperienced roster, coming off the worst two seasons in team history.

“No one expects us to be very good. No one expects us to succeed.” Ionescu said. “Having that underdog mentality ... is gonna help us. Maybe teams are gonna overlook us. Maybe we’re gonna surprise some teams. Who really knows?”