We are just a week away from the WNBA All-Star festivities, and the rosters are officially locked in. Team Clark vs. Team Phee has all the makings of a classic. And if you’re backing Team Clark, there’s plenty to be excited about! Why won’t you? Because when you’ve got the league’s two deadliest shooters in Caitlin Clark and Sabrina Ionescu, you’re never out of the fight. And Sabrina is already busy winning hearts ahead of the game!

The New York Liberty have been in all sorts of trouble ever since Jonquel Jones got injured. They have lost 5 games since losing her to an ankle injury. The wins have been difficult to come by. But all those struggles were thrown out the window on July 8th when they went up against their arch rivals, the Las Vegas Aces.

Sabrina Ionescu scored a game-high 28 points to lead the Liberty to a much-needed 87-78  win. It was the perfect response after their tough loss to the Storm. “We were just really active. Everyone being there, upping the intensity … it paid off for us,” she explained. But it wasn’t just her on-court heroics that made headlines! She had a moment off the court that pretty much broke the internet! Wondering what it was?

It was a wholesome moment where Sabrina gifted her game-worn Nike Sabrina 2s to a young fan who was brought to tears by the gesture. The fan was holding a poster which read, “Sabrina, can I get a pair of your sneakers?” The Liberty guard managed to catch sight of the poster just as she was about to enter the tunnel. Without a second thought, the Liberty star took off her game-worn Nike Sabrina 2s, signed them. A memory for life!

Naturally, the internet lit up with reactions once the video went viral. Thousands flooded the comments with love and admiration for Sabrina’s gesture. So, let’s dive into some of the best fan reactions!

Internet reacts to Sabrina Ionescu giving away her shoes to a fan

“Sab wiping his tears away, this is so sweet 🥹” one fan commented while another joined in to say, “Sabrina 🥺🥺🥺” Now, yes, the young fan was visibly overwhelmed when Sabrina handed over the signed pair of her Sabrina 2s. He couldn’t hold back the tears, and in a moment that melted hearts everywhere, Sabrina gently wiped his tears away before posing for a picture with him. This moment was bound to create such reactions from the fans! It wasn’t the first time Ionescu had given away her shoes. Early in June, when the Liberty finished a 19-point victory over the Chicago Sky, Ionescu gave a group of teenagers the Sabrina 2 sneakers.

Perhaps it’s why another fan said, “She’s awesome. But can you please put better insoles in the next gen of shoes? Pretty funny seeing that even she needs aftermarket insoles and they are her signature shoe 😅.” Now, for those who don’t know, Nike has officially unveiled the much-anticipated third edition of the Sabrina signature line. The Sabrina 2s were, without a doubt, one of the biggest sneaker hits in recent times! They were the second-most-worn shoes in the NBA after the Nike Kobe 6 Protro. So, it’s no surprise that the excitement around the Sabrina 3s is through the roof! Two colorways are expected to be released as per Sneaker News. The Nike Sabrina 3 “Blueprint” is set to drop on July 24th, while the “All-Star” colorway is expected to release earlier, on July 18th for obvious reasons.

Now for the sole part, all basketball players have their own custom-made soles which cost a lot of money as well as research. Usually, they only carry one of them with them. So, it wasn’t really a surprise to see Ionescu remove her insoles before handing over the shoes to the fan. This was reiterated by one fan, who said, “most basketball players use custom insoles in their shoes fit for only their feet. you should do the same.”

Lastly, one fan said, “This is so sweet ❤️ Sab MVP 🥰🥰🥰.” Last year was nothing short of incredible for Sabrina Ionescu. She clinched her first WNBA championship with the Liberty, brought home Olympic gold for Team USA, and had one of the top-selling signature sneakers on the market.

But that level of success could be toppled this year. If she can lead New York to another title while winning MVP in the process, wouldn’t it actually top the year she had in 2024? Well, right now the Liberty are definitely on course to defend their title. But what about her MVP credentials? She is currently averaging 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game. Definitely in the list for the MVP front runners, but not an outright contender to win it yet! Things could change quickly, however!

Only time will tell if the Liberty guard can tick off the targets fans have set for her. But one thing is clear, Sabrina Ionescu’s ability to build connections with the fans is second to none. That young fan who got her signed sneakers? You can bet he’ll be holding onto that moment for the rest of his life!