In Eugene, Oregon, the atmosphere at Oregon’s Matthew Knight Arena was electrified by the return of basketball icon Sabrina Ionescu. The New York Liberty star, and three-time WNBA All-Star, reconnected with local fans for the first time in five years, eliciting a fervent reaction when she passionately exclaimed, “Go Ducks!” Ionescu, accompanied by her Liberty teammate Nyara Sabally, also an Oregon alumna, participated in a preseason matchup against Japan’s Toyota Antelopes.
This event marked the fourth occasion this preseason where WNBA players revisited their college roots, a heartwarming trend that has seen Caitlin Clark return to Iowa, Angel Reese to LSU, and a trio of Notre Dame veterans head back to South Bend, Indiana. Ionescu shone brightly on the court, scoring 25 points, including a remarkable six 3-pointers, leading her team to an 84-61 victory over the Antelopes. Sabally contributed 7 points to the win.
Ionescu emphasized her gratitude towards Oregon, stating, “This was just a thank you. 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’s admiration peaked when Ionescu nailed a 3-pointer from the midcourt logo, prompting a standing ovation. She graciously acknowledged the fans by waving and placing a hand over her heart.
“It’s great to be back home,” Ionescu told the enthusiastic crowd before the game began. Reflecting on her time at Oregon, Ionescu was a senior during the 2020 season that came to an abrupt end due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That year, after Oregon’s victory over No. 7 Stanford in the Pac-12 Tournament, they were anticipated to be a top-seeded team in the NCAA Tournament. Unfortunately, Sabally, although part of the team, had to miss playing due to an ACL injury.
Ionescu capped her college tenure as the all-time leader in NCAA career triple-doubles, across both men’s and women’s basketball, with 26. She was the first overall pick by the Liberty in the 2020 WNBA draft. To honor her contributions and achievements, Eugene Mayor Kaarin Knudson declared the day “Sabrina Ionescu Day.” Notably, Ionescu recently secured a WNBA championship with the Liberty and earned a gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
Natasha Cloud, another Liberty player, expressed happiness for her teammates saying, “I’m glad they’re getting their love. 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.” Enhancing the celebratory mood, the Liberty announced the activation of Sabally’s fourth-year option which ensures her place with the team until the 2026 season.
The game drew the presence of notable figures including Liberty owner Clara Wu Tsai and Oregon coach Kelly Graves. Liberty coach Sandy Brondello praised the idea of the preseason visits to former college stomping grounds, remarking, “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, so it’s great to come back where it all started.”
Coach Graves reminisced that, had the 2020 NCAA Tournament taken place, Ionescu might have had the chance to play once more in Eugene, thus offering a sense of closure. “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 commented on the significance of the recent homecoming.
Looking ahead, the excitement around WNBA engagements in Oregon is set to continue with the introduction of a new expansion team in Portland next year, extending the league’s presence and influence in the region.