Sabrina Ionescu turning attention to two other items after World Cup roster snub

Sabrina Ionescu is taking the snub in stride. After winning gold medals with Team USA in the 2024 Olympics and the 2022 FIBA World Cup, the four-time All-Star and former No.1 overall pick said she was “kind of” surprised to learn Thursday that she was not selected to join the national team for the upcoming World Cup in Berlin.  Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Madeline Kenney about all things Liberty and WNBA.

“[I’m] disappointed, of course,” Ionescu said Saturday.“That’s obviously something that I wanted to participate in, but I think it’s just maturity, like, I understand how difficult it is.

I’m excited for a lot of the new faces that get to go and have the opportunity to do the World Cup.I’ve done it already, so it didn’t rub me the wrong way.

I really understand the honor it is to wear the jersey and I’ve been able to win a gold medal, so I’m very blessed. “I know I’ve kind of dealt with some injuries, and obviously there’s so much talent, so you kind of never know, it could go any way.So I don’t know if surprised is the right word.

It just is what it is.” Ionescu, 28, is one of five players from the 2024 Olympic roster who will not return for the World Cup, having been excluded in favor of a younger, star-studded group of first-time additions (Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese, Aliyah Boston and Rhyne Howard). Breanna Stewart — a three-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time World Cup winner — was a lock to rejoin Team USA. She thought her Liberty teammate was, too. “I think that for her to be left off the World Cup roster, I was surprised,” Stewart said.“Definitely not a nice feeling for her, but I feel like she’s taking it in a positive way.

She’s talked about [she’s] gonna use this time to make sure [she’s] really healthy and ready for our playoff push and those types of things.” Ionescu, who participated in the nationa...