New York Liberty standout Sabrina Ionescu has been selected as the cover athlete for the “WNBA Edition” of NBA 2K24.
“Sabrina’s rise has been incredible to witness as she continues to deliver electric performances night after night,” said Melissa Bell, 2K’s global chief marketing officer. “As part of the new wave of WNBA stars, she has become a powerful force in growing the women’s game. We’re thrilled to feature her as this year’s NBA 2K24 WNBA Edition cover athlete.”
For Ionescu, the honor is “a full-circle experience,” as she grew up playing NBA 2K herself.
The “WNBA Edition” was first introduced in NBA 2K22, where Candace Parker made history as the first woman ever to grace the cover of the franchise. Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird followed as the featured athletes for NBA 2K23.
Ionescu marks a shift from previous selections — she’s an emerging superstar still carving out her legacy rather than an already established legend.
A record-breaking talent at Oregon, where she became the NCAA’s all-time leader in triple-doubles, the 25-year-old entered the WNBA with enormous expectations after being drafted first overall by the Liberty in 2020. An early ankle injury limited her to just three games as a rookie and lingered into 2021.
Once fully healthy, Ionescu showcased the full depth of her game in 2022, averaging 17.4 points, 7.1 rebounds and 6.3 assists. She earned an All-Star selection and secured a spot on the All-WNBA Second Team.
The Liberty’s bold offseason moves were, in many ways, a vote of confidence in their 5’11” star guard. The front office built a superteam around her, and Ionescu played a hands-on role in recruiting new talent.
With Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones and Courtney Vandersloot joining the squad, Ionescu’s numbers have dipped slightly. Even so, she remains highly productive, averaging 14.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.9 assists while knocking down an impressive 43.2% of her shots from beyond the arc.
NBA 2K24 is set for global release on September 8, with Los Angeles Lakers icon Kobe Bryant appearing as the primary cover athlete.
In addition to the standard edition, players can choose between a “Black Mamba Edition” and a “25th Anniversary Edition,” each packed with bonus content.
One of the headline features for NBA 2K24 is full crossplay between PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. The game will also debut “Mamba Moments,” a mode centered around recreating some of Kobe Bryant’s most memorable and iconic performances.
