Latest news with #SabrinaIonescuDay
NBC Sports
13-05-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu plays at Oregon for the first time as a pro in preseason game
EUGENE, Ore. — Playing at Oregon's Matthew Knight Arena for the first time in five years, New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu drew a roar from the capacity crowd by proclaiming, 'Go Ducks!' Ionescu, a three-time WNBA All-Star, made the return trip to Eugene along with Liberty teammate and fellow former Oregon standout Nyara Sabally for a preseason game against the Toyota Antelopes of Japan. It was the fourth time this preseason the WNBA has reunited college fans with their former stars. Caitlin Clark returned to Iowa, Angel Reese went back to LSU and a trio of former Notre Dame stars visited South Bend, Indiana. Ionescu scored 25 points, including six 3-pointers, in the 84-61 victory over the Antelopes. Sabally had 7. 'This was just a thank you,' Ionescu said. 'This wasn't any kind of celebration for me. I think it was just me wanting to celebrate the University of Oregon and what they've done for me in my career.' The crowd gave Ionescu a standing ovation after she hit a 3-pointer from the midcourt logo with 6:03 left. She waved to the crowd and put her hand on her heart before going to the bench. 'It's great to be back home,' Ionescu told the sellout crowd before the game. Ionescu was a senior in 2020 for then-No. 2 Oregon when the season ended prematurely because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Oregon defeated No. 7 Stanford in the Pac-12 Tournament championship that year and the Ducks were expected to be among the top-seeds in the NCAA Tournament. Sabally was a redshirt freshman that year, but did not play because of an ACL injury. Ionescu ended her college career as the NCAA's all-time triple-doubles leader, among both men and women, with 26. She was drafted No. 1 by the Liberty in the 2020 WNBA draft. Eugene Mayor Kaarin Knudson declared it 'Sabrina Ionescu Day' in honor of Ionescu, who won a WNBA title with the Liberty last year as well as a gold medal at the Paris Olympics. 'I'm glad they're getting their love,' teammate Natasha Cloud said of Ionescu and Sabally. 'They deserve it. Both of them have grown so much from being here, and obviously being able to win the (WNBA) championship last year, to come back here and celebrate with the fans.' The Liberty announced it exercised Sabally's fourth-year option, which will keep her with the team through the 2026 season. Liberty owner Clara Wu Tsai and Oregon coach Kelly Graves were among those at the game. 'It is a really cool idea. The preseason has been going to a lot of the college campuses of their star players and Sabrina is a franchise player for us and has done wonderful things,' Liberty coach Sandy Brondello said. 'So it's great to come back where it all started.' Graves noted that if the opening rounds of NCAA Tournament had been played in 2020, Ionescu would have had at least one more game in Eugene to thank the fans. 'There would have been a bit of closure. She would have known, 'This is my last game at Matthew Knight Arena,' and she just never got that opportunity,' Graves said. 'So that's why I thought this was really cool to do.' The WNBA returns to Oregon next year, when an as-yet unnamed expansion team kicks off in Portland.
Fox Sports
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu plays at Oregon for the first time as a pro in preseason game
Associated Press EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Playing at Oregon's Matthew Knight Arena for the first time in five years, New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu drew a roar from the capacity crowd by proclaiming, 'Go Ducks!' Ionescu, a three-time WNBA All-Star, made the return trip to Eugene along with Liberty teammate and fellow former Oregon standout Nyara Sabally for a preseason game against the Toyota Antelopes of Japan. It was the fourth time this preseason the WNBA has reunited college fans with their former stars. Caitlin Clark returned to Iowa, Angel Reese went back to LSU and a trio of former Notre Dame stars visited South Bend, Indiana. Ionescu scored 25 points in the 84-61 victory over the Antelopes. Sabally had 7. The crowd gave Ionescu a standing ovation after she hit a 3-pointer from the midcourt logo with 6:03 left. She waved to the crowd and put her hand on her heart before going to the bench. 'It's great to be back home,' Ionescu told the crowd before the game. Ionescu was a senior in 2020 for then-No. 2 Oregon when the season ended prematurely because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Oregon defeated No. 7 Stanford in the Pac-12 Tournament championship that year and the Ducks were expected to be among the top-seeds in the NCAA Tournament. Sabally was a redshirt freshman on that team. Ionescu ended her college career as the NCAA's all-time triple-doubles leader, among both men and women, with 26. She was drafted No. 1 by the Liberty in the 2020 WNBA draft. Eugene Mayor Kaarin Knudson declared Monday 'Sabrina Ionescu Day" in honor of Ionescu, who won a WNBA title with the Liberty last year as well as a gold medal at the Paris Olympics. 'I'm glad they're getting their love,' teammate Natasha Cloud said of Ionescu and Sabally. 'They deserve it. Both of them have grown so much from being here, and obviously being able to win the (WNBA) championship last year, to come back here and celebrate with the fans.' The Liberty announced earlier Monday it exercised Sabally's fourth-year option, which will keep her with the team through the 2026 season. Liberty owner Clara Wu Tsai and Oregon coach Kelly Graves were among those at the game. 'It is a really cool idea. The preseason has been going to a lot of the college campuses of their star players and Sabrina is a franchise player for us and has done wonderful things,' Liberty coach Sandy Brondello said. 'So it's great to come back where it all started.' The WNBA returns to Oregon next year, when an as-yet unnamed expansion team kicks off in Portland. ___ AP WNBA:
Hamilton Spectator
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu plays at Oregon for the first time as a pro in preseason game
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Playing at Oregon's Matthew Knight Arena for the first time in five years, New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu drew a roar from the capacity crowd by proclaiming, 'Go Ducks!' Ionescu, a three-time WNBA All-Star, made the return trip to Eugene along with Liberty teammate and fellow former Oregon standout Nyara Sabally for a preseason game against the Toyota Antelopes of Japan. It was the fourth time this preseason the WNBA has reunited college fans with their former stars. Caitlin Clark returned to Iowa, Angel Reese went back to LSU and a trio of former Notre Dame stars visited South Bend, Indiana. Ionescu scored 25 points in the 84-61 victory over the Antelopes. Sabally had 7. The crowd gave Ionescu a standing ovation after she hit a 3-pointer from the midcourt logo with 6:03 left. She waved to the crowd and put her hand on her heart before going to the bench. 'It's great to be back home,' Ionescu told the crowd before the game. Ionescu was a senior in 2020 for then-No. 2 Oregon when the season ended prematurely because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Oregon defeated No. 7 Stanford in the Pac-12 Tournament championship that year and the Ducks were expected to be among the top-seeds in the NCAA Tournament. Sabally was a redshirt freshman on that team. Ionescu ended her college career as the NCAA's all-time triple-doubles leader, among both men and women, with 26. She was drafted No. 1 by the Liberty in the 2020 WNBA draft. Eugene Mayor Kaarin Knudson declared Monday 'Sabrina Ionescu Day' in honor of Ionescu, who won a WNBA title with the Liberty last year as well as a gold medal at the Paris Olympics. 'I'm glad they're getting their love,' teammate Natasha Cloud said of Ionescu and Sabally. 'They deserve it. Both of them have grown so much from being here, and obviously being able to win the (WNBA) championship last year, to come back here and celebrate with the fans.' The Liberty announced earlier Monday it exercised Sabally's fourth-year option, which will keep her with the team through the 2026 season. Liberty owner Clara Wu Tsai and Oregon coach Kelly Graves were among those at the game. 'It is a really cool idea. The preseason has been going to a lot of the college campuses of their star players and Sabrina is a franchise player for us and has done wonderful things,' Liberty coach Sandy Brondello said. 'So it's great to come back where it all started.' The WNBA returns to Oregon next year, when an as-yet unnamed expansion team kicks off in Portland. ___ AP WNBA:
Winnipeg Free Press
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu plays at Oregon for the first time as a pro in preseason game
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Playing at Oregon's Matthew Knight Arena for the first time in five years, New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu drew a roar from the capacity crowd by proclaiming, 'Go Ducks!' Ionescu, a three-time WNBA All-Star, made the return trip to Eugene along with Liberty teammate and fellow former Oregon standout Nyara Sabally for a preseason game against the Toyota Antelopes of Japan. It was the fourth time this preseason the WNBA has reunited college fans with their former stars. Caitlin Clark returned to Iowa, Angel Reese went back to LSU and a trio of former Notre Dame stars visited South Bend, Indiana. Ionescu scored 25 points in the 84-61 victory over the Antelopes. Sabally had 7. The crowd gave Ionescu a standing ovation after she hit a 3-pointer from the midcourt logo with 6:03 left. She waved to the crowd and put her hand on her heart before going to the bench. 'It's great to be back home,' Ionescu told the crowd before the game. Ionescu was a senior in 2020 for then-No. 2 Oregon when the season ended prematurely because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Oregon defeated No. 7 Stanford in the Pac-12 Tournament championship that year and the Ducks were expected to be among the top-seeds in the NCAA Tournament. Sabally was a redshirt freshman on that team. Ionescu ended her college career as the NCAA's all-time triple-doubles leader, among both men and women, with 26. She was drafted No. 1 by the Liberty in the 2020 WNBA draft. Eugene Mayor Kaarin Knudson declared Monday 'Sabrina Ionescu Day' in honor of Ionescu, who won a WNBA title with the Liberty last year as well as a gold medal at the Paris Olympics. 'I'm glad they're getting their love,' teammate Natasha Cloud said of Ionescu and Sabally. 'They deserve it. Both of them have grown so much from being here, and obviously being able to win the (WNBA) championship last year, to come back here and celebrate with the fans.' The Liberty announced earlier Monday it exercised Sabally's fourth-year option, which will keep her with the team through the 2026 season. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Liberty owner Clara Wu Tsai and Oregon coach Kelly Graves were among those at the game. 'It is a really cool idea. The preseason has been going to a lot of the college campuses of their star players and Sabrina is a franchise player for us and has done wonderful things,' Liberty coach Sandy Brondello said. 'So it's great to come back where it all started.' The WNBA returns to Oregon next year, when an as-yet unnamed expansion team kicks off in Portland. ___ AP WNBA:
USA Today
12-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Eugene declares May 12 as 'Sabrina Ionescu Day' to honor Oregon basketball legend
Eugene declares May 12 as 'Sabrina Ionescu Day' to honor Oregon basketball legend Eugene, OR will now recognize May 12th as Sabrina Ionescu Day 👏🦆 — New York Liberty (@nyliberty) May 12, 2025 Over the last several decades, the University of Oregon has seen many legendary players and people come through the athletic department, but few have been as captivating or beloved as Sabrina Ionescu. She did it all on the court, ushering in the most memorable period of women's basketball at Oregon, and she's continued to excel, winning the WNBA Championship with the New York Liberty in 2024. As arguably one of the greatest female college basketball players of all time and the holder of endless NCAA records, Ionescu left a huge mark on Eugene in her four years playing under Kelly Graves, and this weekend, the city of Eugene did something to recognize her in return. Over the weekend, ahead of the Liberty's exhibition game against the Toyota Antelopes of the Women's Japan Basketball League on Monday night, Eugene mayor Kaarin Knudson announced that going forward, May 12 will officially be known in Tracktown, USA, as "Sabrina Ionescu Day." A special ceremony was held on Sunday to announce the honor at the practice courts at Matthew Knight Arena. Alongside Ionescu, former Duck great Nyara Sabally, a fellow Liberty, is also in Eugene for the weekend of activities. The exhibition game between New York and Toyota will be held on Monday at 7 p.m. PT in Matthew Knight Arena. Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
