NEW YORK — Sabrina Ionescu can’t contain her excitement when the topic of the Olympics comes up.

She wears a subtle, personal smile, acknowledging the effort it took for her to make the Team USA roster at 26 years old. Ionescu played a part in helping the U.S. secure their incredible eighth gold medal in a row.

Others in the WNBA Finals are more vocal about their Olympic pride. Alanna Smith of the Minnesota Lynx beams with delight as she reflects on her second consecutive Olympic experience.

The championship series featuring the Liberty and the Lynx started with Minnesota leading 1-0 after an exhilarating 95-93 overtime victory in Game 1 at Barclays Center. Seven Olympians, representing America, Australia, Canada, and Germany, played in Paris this summer (including semifinal teams raises that number to 14 Olympians from six nations).

While it’s easy to highlight the Olympic achievements of superstars like Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, who played key roles for Team USA, the role players—like Ionescu, Smith, Minnesota’s Bridget Carleton, and New York’s Leonie Fiebich—may have reaped the greatest rewards from their experiences on the international stage.

“I believe my Olympic experience greatly influences my performance not just in the Finals but throughout the entire WNBA playoffs,” Carleton told YSL News Sports. “During the qualifying, I faced three intense games against strong opponents in just four days, which prepared me to be a key player for Canada. That kind of pressure is invaluable for development.”

Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello concurs. The Australian coach, who has been at the helm since 2017 after an impressive playing career, notes the significance of the Olympic experience for players now competing for a WNBA title.

“Olympic competition is incredibly intense, where every game matters and feels like a final,” Brondello explained. “This experience gives players a strong advantage in high-pressure situations.”

Minnesota’s coach Cheryl Reeve, who led the USA to gold in her first term as head coach after being an assistant in two previous Olympics, emphasizes the team’s composition, focusing on collaboration over individual talent. Two crucial components of her lineup are Smith, who joined after a season in Chicago, and Carleton, who has been a Lynx player for six seasons.

Carleton notably received 15 votes for the Most Improved Player award after significantly increasing her scoring, assists, and field goal percentage. Meanwhile, Smith showcased her versatility with a strong defensive performance, receiving second team All-Defense honors and having career-high stats in blocks and steals.

“It may sound patriotic, but the WNBA is the best league in the world talent-wise, and playing against that caliber helps elevate the game both locally and internationally,” Reeve remarked.

Ionescu is enjoying a standout season for the Liberty, although her role in Paris was more limited. She spent only 10 minutes on the floor in the final, contributing no points, but made an impact with three assists that led to scores during a crucial stretch in their nail-biting 67-66 victory over France.

Ionescu believes the Olympics serve as a reminder that perseverance pays off, even if achievements take longer to realize. It also emphasizes the value of every contribution, regardless of scale.

Some players, however, are less inclined to draw direct connections between international achievements and success in the WNBA.

Fiebich, a Liberty standout, prefers to keep her commitments to the national team distinct from her responsibilities in New York due to differing roles in each context.

During the Olympics, Fiebich averaged 10.3 points and 3.5 rebounds for a promising German team that reached the knockout stage in their inaugural Olympic appearance. As a rookie who only joined the Liberty this season after being drafted in 2020, she was a finalist for Sixth Woman of the Year and was recognized on the All-Rookie team.

Smith noted a major difference between the Olympic and WNBA experience is the physicality of FIBA play, which challenges players to score despite contact.

“Coming from a different background and adapting to American basketball in college exposed me to various playing styles, which helped me adjust to the international game,” Smith explained. After averaging 11.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in Paris, she was named to the FIBA All-Star Five.

She’s also drawn inspiration from the Olympics.

Smith recognizes that many fans go wild for impressive three-pointers or incredible last-minute jump shots. However, staying true to her defensive background, her most memorable Olympic moment occurred during the bronze medal match. Her teammate Steph Talbot, who plays for the Los Angeles Sparks, made a crucial block against a potential game-tying three-pointer from Belgium towards the end of the game.

“That moment really stands out for me,” said Smith. “It was a significant play that helped us maintain our momentum.”

This is the kind of influence Smith aims to have on her team. And if it’s not during the Olympics, she would be more than happy to make that mark in the WNBA Finals.