Sabrina Ionescu’s Angry Meltdown Against WNBA Ref Goes Viral During Liberty's Recent Loss

Sabrina Ionescu had an outstanding individual performance, scoring 30 points on 12-for-22 shooting for the New York Liberty in their game against the Los Angeles Sparks. However, the Liberty suffered a heartbreaking 101-99 loss on a buzzer-beating shot by the Sparks' Rickea Jackson.

Ionescu's frustration became a major storyline during the game. In the third quarter, after she hit a three-pointer off a handoff from Jonquel Jones, officials called an illegal screen, nullifying the basket. This controversial call visibly stunned Ionescu, leading to an animated outburst where she approached the referees and loudly demanded a technical foul, shouting "Tech me, tech me!" Her demand was granted, and this moment quickly went viral on social media, sparking league-wide discussions about player passion and officiating consistency.

Despite trailing by 15 points in the third quarter, Ionescu and Natasha Cloud led a Liberty comeback. Ionescu tied the game at 99 with a clutch jumper with just 23 seconds remaining. The Sparks won the game with Jackson's shot after a timeout. The loss was compounded for New York as star forward Breanna Stewart left the game early due to injury after scoring only three points.

Despite the loss, the Liberty maintain a strong 17-7 record, second in the league standings. The Sparks improved to 11-14 with their fifth consecutive win, snapping the Liberty's own five-game winning streak. The Liberty next face the Dallas Wings and rookie Paige Bueckers.