New York Liberty point guard Sabrina Ionescu admitted to having to “evolve” with how she treats her hair, not only due to the physical demands of playing basketball, but also due to one particular teammate who used to play with her hair.
In an interview with Bustle, Sabrina Ionescu talked about her hair and the secret to why it seemingly never moves during a game.
“I’ve put a lot of work into my ponytail. I’m always trying to figure out new products that will help it stay. I don’t use gel because my hair is really fine, and it makes it greasy, so I stick with Dove hairspray. I never used to do anything to it, but then one of my teammates said I looked like a child with pieces falling out, so I had to evolve.”
When asked on social media who that one teammate was, Ionescu did not hesitate to drop the ball on who she was.
She posted on X: “Breanna Stewart is the culprit. She’s trying to make me take the headband off too🥲”
@breannastewart is the culprit. She’s trying to make me take the headband off too🥲
— Sabrina Ionescu (@sabrina_i20) April 23, 2025
Sabrina Ionescu’s ponytail has become an iconic part of her personal brand, symbolizing her consistency, focus, and determination on the court. Since her college days at Oregon, she has maintained the same hairstyle, which fans have come to associate with her sharp shooting and leadership.
Over time, her ponytail has even been referenced in interviews and social media discussions, with some joking that it’s as much a part of her game as her three-point shot.
Sabrina Ionescu Talks Pre-Game Preparations and Superstitions
In the same interview, Sabrina Ionescu also talked about her pre-game superstitions as well as the music that gets her pumped for the game.
“Everyone’s pretty superstitious about where they sit on the bus,” she said. “I sit on the right side and a lot of the time, the order [in which] we go onto the court for warmups has to be the same.”
“I’ll play Luke Combs before every single game, because his music is so relaxing. I don’t want anything to hype me up. I’ll put one of his albums on in the background as I get ready.”
During her offseason from the WNBA, Sabrina Ionescu joined Unrivaled, the newly formed 3×3 winter league, as its final player. She weighed her options carefully before committing, citing the league’s historic deal and her opportunity to be involved on the ownership side as key factors in her decision.
During her time with Unrivaled, she also embarked on an Asia tour, visiting the Philippines and China to promote both the WNBA and her Nike signature shoe.
Sabrina Ionescu and the New York Liberty will go to the 2025 WNBA aiming for a back-to-back championship title.
For more basketball content, click on Hardwood Heroics. Sabel Reyes can be reached through [email protected]. Other websites under the Sports Heroics umbrella are Gridiron Heroics and Wisconsin Heroics.
Sabel has been working as a field reporter for People’s Television Network (PTV), mainly about the Philippine Basketball Association since 2016 and has been elevated to Executive Producer for sports in 2022. Aside from being on top of the Philippine sports scene, she is also a running enthusiast. You can also follow her on X at @SabelReyes2 and Instagram at @msabelreyes.
