USA TODAY International Edition
Likely WNBA No. 1 ready to take talents to New York
EUGENE, Ore. – Sabrina Ionescu’s best- laid plans went awry.
When the Oregon women’s basketball superstar mapped out her senior season, the destinations included winning the Ducks’ first national championship in New Orleans and walking across the stage at the WNBA draft in New York.
Her mentor, Kobe Bryant, and his daughter, Gianna, would have been part of the celebration with Ionescu, who is expected to be taken No. 1 overall by the New York Liberty on Friday.
But the COVID- 19 health crisis forced the cancellation of the NCAA tournament. Kobe and Gianna Bryant died in a helicopter crash in the middle of Ionescu’s emotional quest to take care of unfinished business during her final season with the Ducks.
“It’s kind of hard to think about it,”
Ionescu said on a video conference with the media. “I came back to win a national championship, and then you don’t win it and then you try to see if there was any regret. I would say it was probably one of the best decisions of my life to come back, although there was many ups and downs through the year. I wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else besides there.”
Ionescu would have likely been the No. 1 pick in last year’s WNBA draft. After the Ducks’ loss to Baylor in the national semifinals, she opted to return to Oregon and is currently finishing her master’s degree in advertising and brand responsibility.
The coursework is already being put to practical use as Ionescu listens to pitches from Nike, Under Armour and Puma.
“The money is important, but I think just the vision and the kind of plan that they have in place for me,” Ionescu said of the factors she is weighing. “In what I can do, not only for the sport, but for basketball and society.
“Whether that’s going to be a shoe down the line or whatever it is, just hoping to get with a brand that can use me on their platform to advocate for something bigger than just basketball.”
As the NCAA’s triple- double queen and the only member of the 2,000point, 1,000- assist and 1,000- rebound club, Ionescu will enter the WNBA with star power.
Landing in the New York market would only enhance Ionescu’s status.
“Just the marketability that there is in New York and kind of the hustle and bustle is something that I think can be not only beneficial to myself as a person but as a brand and for women’s basketball,” Ionescu said. “If I get that opportunity, I will definitely be excited to try and use that to the best of my ability.”
Helping coach Kelly Graves and his
staff build Oregon from Pac- 12 bottomfeeder to national powerhouse prepared Ionescu for the on- court challenges that await at the next level.
The Liberty finished 10- 24 last season, fifth in the six- team Eastern Conference and 16 games behind the WNBA champion Mystics. The franchise was acquired by the NBA’s Nets ownership group and will play in Barclays Center this season.
“Obviously, they’re not where they need to be, and that’s a learning and growing process,” Ionescu said. “I’ve been a part of that for four years, so I understand really more than anyone what it’s like to come into an organization and have to believe in the foundation that’s there and the coaching staff there and kind of just ride the wave, the ups and downs, from there.”
Oregon’s “Big Three” – Ionescu, Satou Sabally and Ruthy Hebard – have already proved they are capable of competing with, and beating, some of the world’s greatest players. During an exhibition game before the 2019- 20 season, Ionescu scored 30 points, Sabally scored 25 points and Hebard added 18 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Ducks to a 93- 86 upset of the U. S. national team.
In ESPN’s latest mock draft, Sabally is projected to be the No. 2 pick to Dallas, with Hebard being selected No. 11 by Seattle.
Ionescu led the Ducks to a 31- 2 record and a sweep of the Pac- 12 regular- season and tournament championships before the NCAA tournament was canceled.
During her senior season, Ionescu averaged 17.5 points, an NCAA- leading 9.1 assists and a career- high 8.6 rebounds. Her extensive hardware collection includes the Naismith Trophy, Wooden Award and Wade Trophy.
Oregon finished the season ranked No. 2 in both the Women’s Basketball
Coaches Poll and The Associated Press poll behind South Carolina.
“Obviously one of the worst years of my life but also one of the best,” Ionescu said. “Just being able to share that with the community, with the school, with my teammates one last time was a blessing.
“I don’t regret anything about coming back to school, even though we didn’t end up winning a national championship.”