If you’re a basketball fan who spends any time on X or scrolling through highlight reels, you’ve definitely seen the number. 1-19. It’s become a sort of shorthand, a weird digital scar that people use to try and poke holes in one of the most decorated resumes in women’s basketball. Specifically, we’re talking about Sabrina Ionescu’s shooting performance in Game 5 of the 2024 WNBA Finals.
She went 1-for-19. It was brutal. Honestly, it was the kind of night that usually ends in a tear-filled press conference and a "what if" narrative that follows a player for a decade. But that’s not what happened. Instead, the New York Liberty hoisted their first-ever trophy, and Sabrina Ionescu 1 19 became a historical curiosity rather than a tragedy.
The Night Everything and Nothing Went In
Let’s look at the actual tape. October 20, 2024. Barclays Center is vibrating. The Liberty are facing the Minnesota Lynx in a winner-take-all Game 5. Sabrina starts cold. Then she gets colder. She misses layups. She misses the logo threes that usually make her look like she’s playing a video game. According to ESPN Stats & Info, her 0-for-12 start was the most consecutive misses in a winner-take-all game in WNBA history.
She finished the night with five points. That 1-for-19 stat line—including 1-for-10 from beyond the arc—is technically the worst shooting performance for anyone taking that many shots in a Finals clincher since... well, basically since the league started keeping track.
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But here’s the thing about elite sports that most people miss: gravity. Even when she was "clanking" everything off the back iron, the Lynx couldn’t leave her. You don't leave Sabrina Ionescu. If you give her three feet of space because she’s 0-for-15, she’ll hit the next three and ignite a 12-0 run. Minnesota’s defense stayed glued to her, which opened up the floor for Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart to do the heavy lifting.
Why Sabrina Ionescu 1 19 is Still Trending in 2026
It’s now early 2026, and we’re still talking about it. Why? Because it defines the "post-perfection" era of the WNBA. For a long time, the narrative around Sabrina was that she had to be the "female Steph Curry"—a perfect shooting machine. When she isn't that, critics jump.
Current news has only added fuel to the fire. As of January 2026, Sabrina is officially sidelined for the second season of the Unrivaled 3-on-3 league. The league confirmed on January 8 that she’s dealing with a lingering injury sustained during the previous WNBA season. Fans are connecting the dots, wondering if that "1-19" night was actually the start of this physical decline.
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Was she hurt back then? Most insiders think so. You don't just forget how to shoot unless something in your kinetic chain—a toe, an ankle, a wrist—is misfiring.
The Impact Beyond the Box Score
If you just look at the shooting percentage, you’re missing the actual basketball. In that same Game 5, Sabrina chipped in:
- 8 assists (led the team)
- 7 rebounds
- A massive block late in the game
- Two steals that flipped momentum
She played 40 minutes. Forty! In a game where every possession felt like a war, her coach, Sandy Brondello, didn't pull her. Why? Because a 1-for-19 Sabrina Ionescu is still more dangerous than almost anyone else's backup guard. She functioned as a primary ball-handler and a decoy.
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It’s sorta like when a pitcher in baseball doesn't have their "stuff" but manages to grind out seven innings and get the win anyway. It’s not pretty. It won’t be in a textbook. But it counts.
What’s Next for Sab in 2026?
Right now, the focus isn't on the past, but on the recovery. Missing the Unrivaled season is a blow to the new league’s marketing, for sure. They were banking on her 3-point shootout fame to drive ratings. Instead, she’ll be doing "off-court initiatives" and broadcast work.
The New York Liberty have a lot of questions to answer this year too. With a new head coach, Chris DeMarco, taking the reigns, the system might change. They need Sabrina healthy. The 18.2 points and 5.7 assists she averaged in the 2025 regular season prove she’s still a top-tier threat, but the shooting efficiency has to bounce back from the high-30s to the mid-40s if the Liberty want to repeat.
Actionable Insights for Following the 2026 Season:
- Watch the Injury Reports: Pay close attention to the "lower body" designations. If it’s the same foot/toe issue from the 2025 playoffs, it might affect her lift on her jumper.
- Value the "Gravity": When watching Liberty games, don't just follow the ball. Watch how many defenders stay within arm's reach of Sabrina even when she’s across the court. That is her real value.
- Ignore the Trolls: People will keep posting the 1-19 meme. Just remember that she has the ring and the trolls have the screenshots.
The 2026 WNBA season kicks off soon, and whether Sabrina is at 100% by then is the biggest storyline in Brooklyn. Keep an eye on the preseason matchups in May to see if that signature shooting form is back to its "logo Sab" glory.