NEW YORK (AP) — Sabrina Ionescu's relationship with Spike Lee goes back to when she was drafted by the New York Liberty.
The basketball super fan was one of the first people to welcome her to New York when the Liberty took her No. 1 in 2020.
“He was the first person who called me and shared the excitement with New York getting the No. 1 pick,” Ionescu said after scoring 21 points in an 87-77 win over Las Vegas on Sunday. “Every time I've seen him we've had small talk and I said he's got to come out to a game. To be able to see him here cheering us on loud, over there chirping at the refs and talking to the players."
Lee has been a fixture at New York Knicks games over the years and has routinely trash-talked opposing players including famously Reggie Miller. He was sitting courtside at Barclays Center, wearing an Ionescu jersey.
This time, Aces guard Kelsey Plum was the object of his good-natured trash talk.
“I can’t say exactly what was said, but I told him that he should talk louder," Plum said smiling after the game. "But it was all well and fun and really cool that he’s here, even last round was really cool. I know he’s a big sports fan.”
This was the second straight Liberty playoff game Lee's attended. He was also at the opening round clincher over Atlanta. At the first game he gave Ionescu a high-five in the third quarter that she said felt like “New York was injected into my veins.”
Lee was part of the sellout crowd of 14,015 that also included Liberty fan Jason Sudeikis and Tracy Morgan.
AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball
New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) celebrates after a basket during the second half of a WNBA basketball second-round playoff game against the Las Vegas Aces, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)
Film director Spike Lee, center, attends a WNBA basketball semifinal game between the New York Liberty and the Las Vegas Aces, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)
A crisis unfolded in Asheville, North Carolina, as officials pledged to get more water, food and other supplies to flood-stricken areas without power and cellular service Monday, days after Hurricane Helene ripped across the U.S. Southeast. The death toll from the storm approached 100.
At least 91 people across several states were killed. A North Carolina county that includes the mountain city of Asheville reported 30 people killed.
Follow AP’s coverage of tropical weather at https://apnews.com/hub/hurricanes.
Here’s the latest:
Authorities in the western North Carolina county of Macon are reporting a storm-related death as officials continue to assess the damage from the flooding over the weekend.
“Unfortunately there has been one fatality in Macon County that can be attributed to the storm,” the local sheriff’s said in a statement late Sunday night. “More information will be available at a later date.”
Macon County is southwest of Asheville and borders Georgia. The sheriff’s office statement says the county was experiencing poor cellular coverage, while crews were working to restore power in affected areas. Numerous calls have been coming in from people from outside of the area who want to check in on loved ones.
“Welfare checks will only be conducted that meet certain criteria and not all requests can be met,” the sheriff’s office said. “A significant part of Macon County was unaffected by the storm and the only issues there are lack of a reliable communication system.”
President Joe Biden says he will visit Hurricane Helene-impacted areas this week as long as it does not disrupt rescue and recovery operations.
Biden was briefed again on Sunday evening about the impact of the devastating storm on an enormous swath of the Southeast. In a brief exchange with reporters, he described the impact of the storm as “stunning” and said that the administration is giving states “everything we have” to help with their response to the storm.
Biden planned to speak about the administration’s response efforts in remarks from the White House on Monday.
A stop sign can be barely seen above a flooded parking lot after torrential rain from Hurricane Helene caused severe flooding, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Morganton, N.C. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)
Crews work to clean up the tons of sand and debris pushed onto Gulf Boulevard from Hurricane Helene storm surge, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Madeira Beach, Fla. (Luis Santana/Tampa Bay Times via AP)
A couple of RVs are abandoned in the flooded Ingles parking lot due to the torrential rains from Hurricane Helene, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Morganton, N.C. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)
