{"id":79464,"date":"2025-08-13T11:18:17","date_gmt":"2025-08-13T11:18:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/79464\/"},"modified":"2025-08-13T11:18:17","modified_gmt":"2025-08-13T11:18:17","slug":"its-sabrina-ionescu-day-in-eugene-as-new-york-liberty-star-returns-for-wnba-preseason-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/79464\/","title":{"rendered":"It\u2019s Sabrina Ionescu Day in Eugene as New York Liberty star returns for WNBA preseason game"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sabrina Ionescu<\/a> is back in Eugene, bringing her New York Liberty<\/a> to face the Toyota Antelopes of Japan on Monday night at Matthew Knight Arena.<\/p>\n

But before Ionescu and the reigning-champion Liberty hit the hardwood for the WNBA<\/a> preseason game, it\u2019s a day worthy of celebration in Eugene.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s because Eugene Mayor Kaarin Knudson on Sunday declared May 12, 2025, as Sabrina Ionescu Day in honor of the former Oregon Ducks<\/a> star.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you very much, I really appreciate this,\u201d Ionescu said after hearing the news and getting a hug from the mayor. \u201cI never thought that 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 of Oregon, this community that has meant so much to me and allowed me to be where I\u2019m at now in my professional career, and give back to the next little Sabrina that\u2019s running around here in Eugene.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ionescu\u2019s Liberty teammate Nyara Sabally<\/a>, another former Ducks star, also is back in Eugene, and Sabally received news worth celebrating Monday as well. The Liberty announced<\/a> they had exercised their fourth-year option on Sabally\u2019s rookie contract, extending her through the 2026 season.<\/p>\n

The Liberty and Antelopes are set to tip off at 7 p.m. Monday at Matthew Knight Arena. As of the noon hour Monday, tickets were available on Ticketmaster<\/a> starting at $31.25 each.<\/p>\n

— Joel Odom<\/a> writes about trending topics in news, life and culture, and sports. Reach him at 503-221-8594, jodom@oregonian.com<\/a> or @jkodom on Blue Sky<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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