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New York Liberty's floor general, Sabrina Ionescu, casually brought up the name of NBA star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander during a discussion about players drawing a high number of fouls in a single contest. Gilgeous-Alexander has often been the subject of online chatter regarding his knack for drawing fouls.
The reigning NBA MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, was mentioned in the context of Liberty forward Breanna Stewart drawing an unusually high sixteen fouls in their recent matchup against the Golden State Valkyries. The query arose during a post-game conversation with the Liberty's head coach, Sandy Brondello.
The New York Liberty have enjoyed a strong start to the 2025 WNBA season, boasting an unblemished 6-0 record, their latest triumph coming against the Washington Mystics on May 30th. In that game, Sabrina Ionescu led all scorers with an impressive 28 points, also adding 3 rebounds and 5 assists, while Jonquel Jones contributed a strong 14 points, 18 rebounds, and 3 assists.
A Lighthearted Comparison
Reflecting on their previous game against the Golden State Valkyries, where Breanna Stewart's 27 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists propelled the Liberty to victory, Coach Brondello was questioned about Stewart's free throw attempts, and if she had ever witnessed a player drawing as many as sixteen fouls. As the coach began her response, Ionescu interjected with a playful reference to NBA standout Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, simply saying "SGA."
This remark elicited laughter in the room, including a chuckle from Coach Brondello. Gilgeous-Alexander is widely recognized for his playing style that often involves drawing fouls to earn free throws, a trait that has jokingly earned him the moniker of a "free-throw expert" among some fans. This season, he has successfully converted a notable 601 free throws, suring James Harden of the Los Angeles Clippers, who has made 505.
In her game against the Valkyries, Breanna Stewart managed to draw an impressive sixteen fouls. However, she converted fifteen of those attempts, resulting in just 9 points in the first half. Demonstrating her resilience, Stewart bounced back strongly in the second half, ultimately reaching 27 points and guiding the Liberty to a well-earned victory.