Whenever Sabrina Ionescu can spoil her teammates and the Liberty support staff, she’s happy to do it.
So earlier this season, Ionescu hooked up the team up with an essential, but sometimes overlooked, item.
When Liberty players got to their locker after practice one day in June, they found seafoam Away crossbodies and Liberty-branded suitcases from the same brand customized with their jersey numbers.
The gifts were met with gratitude and smiles.
“Thank you, Sab,” Natasha Cloud exclaimed.
“These are cute,” Nyara Sabally said as she lifted up the smaller bag.
On Monday, Away made a long-anticipated partnership official, announcing that the travel brand has signed Ionescu to a multiyear deal.
It makes sense that the first-ever partnership between a WNBA player and luggage brand is with Ionescu, who always seems to be on the road.
Last offseason, Ionescu spent part of it in Miami for Unrivaled and also traveled across the world for her first Asia tour as a Nike signature athlete.
That’s part of why Ionescu told The Post she’s thrilled for this new opportunity with Away.
“It’s exciting,” Ionescu said. “Just obviously a great brand to be partnered with and understanding how I use it in my daily life. I’m traveling a lot. I’m always on the road, going from place to place.”
It only seems right that Ionescu and Away officially linked up, not only because Away is a Liberty team sponsor but also because of its commitment to supporting women’s athletes.
“To know I can have great partners that continue to push the game forward… is something I’m super excited about,” Ionescu said.
The feeling is mutual, according to Away CEO Jessica Schinazi.
“At Away, we’re inspired by those who push boundaries and redefine expectations in their fields. Sabrina is not only a generational talent but embodies the bold spirit, leadership and forward momentum that Away champions,” Schinazi said in a statement. “Travel and sport are deeply connected, and partnering with Sabrina is a natural continuation of our commitment to empowering athletes and the journey they take both on and off the court.”
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As part of the partnership, Ionescu and Away will reveal a limited edition collection next year and partner on community impact initiatives through the Liberty star’s SI20 Foundation as well as continue to outfit her teammates with travel gear during the season.
Not all of Ionescu’s travels are for work.
When she’s seeking some serious R&R during the WNBA offseason, she said she and her husband, Hroniss Grasu, love vacationing in Hawaii, where they also went for their honeymoon.
“We’re big Hawaii fans,” Ionescu said. “But being able to just kind of — no pun intended — get away and relax, like good weather, good food, the water. The time change actually is really nice because you can kind of like disconnect, get up early, workout. But I would say Hawaii for sure is kind of a destination we got to every offseason and one we enjoy.”