By rssfeeds-admin Monday’s proclamation comes as Ionescu and the New York Liberty hosted a preseason exhibition game at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene on Monday against the Toyota Antelopes, a Japanese basketball team.
Presenting Ionescu with the proclamation, Eugene Mayor Kaarin Knudson noted the WNBA star’s accomplishments, contributions to the community and the game of basketball.
“This was a really special opportunity for us as a community to just share a little bit about not just how exciting it is to be a fan now but how meaningful it is to have such support of our kids and our youth over years of time. You all are changing the game of basketball, you’re changing the experience of women’s sports for millions of people, for millions of kids and Sabrina, also you’ve done so much for the community and given so much care and love to future generations of Eugenians and all sorts of kids throughout the Pacific Northwest,” Mayor Knudson said.
“It’s my honor as the Mayor of Eugene to share this proclamation with you all,” Knudson said reading the proclamation. “Whereas Sabrina Ionescu is a generational player who has changed women’s sports and led the University of Oregon women’s basketball team through 2016 to 2020. Whereas Ionescu is the only player, male or female, in NCAA history with 2,000 career points, 1,000 career rebounds … whereas Ionescu was unanimously voted the 2020 AP Women’s Basketball Player of the Year, is the all-time triple-double leader and is the first Oregon Duck to be taken overall in the WNBA draft by the New York Liberty.”
“Whereas Ionescu and Team USA earned the United States’ eighth-straight medal in women’s basketball in 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, whereas Ionescu is now a three-time WNBA All Star, a WNBA Three-Point Shootout Champion, and a WNBA champion with the New York Liberty. And whereas alongside all these prolific accomplishments, Ionescu has shown Ducks Nation and a world of fans a mentality, mentorship and teamwork transcend individual achievement and demonstrated an unwavering commitment to future generations with her work to ensure all youth have access to physical activity,” Knudson furthered.
“And whereas University of Oregon Alum and WNBA champion Sabrina Ionescu will make her on-court return to the Mattew Knight Arena May 12, 2025, with her team, the 2024 WNBA Champions the New York Liberty, now therefore, I Kaarin Knudson do hereby proclaim May 12, 2025, Sabrina Ionescu Day,” the mayor said, presenting the proclamation to Ionescu. “I encourage all community members to join me in celebrating Sabrina Ionescu Day as well as her extraordinary achievements in a shared commitment to universal access to physical activity for youth and I thank you so much.”
“Thank you very much,” Ionescu said, accepting the proclamation. “I really appreciate this. I never thought I would be in a position to have a day named after me, so this is pretty special to be able to give back to the University Oregon. This community that has meant so much to me and allowed me to be where I’m at now in my professional career and give back to the next little Sabrina that’s running around here in Eugene.”
Ahead of her trip to Eugene, Ionescu said, “I’ve got some great things in store throughout the weekend for my teammates: past and present, Oregon women’s basketball fans, the Eugene community, and the SI20 Foundation. Sco Ducks Forever!”
Ionescu is joined by another former Duck and teammate Nyara Sabally who was selected fifth overall by New York in the 2022 WNBA draft.
Sabally also expressed excitement returning to Eugene, saying, “I never thought I was going to be able to play on that court and in front of our amazing Duck fans again. I know Oregon is going to show out and it’s going to be an amazing atmosphere.”
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