True Point God
Moraga, Calif. — Point god, triple-double queen, or simply the GOAT.
Whatever you want to call her, remember the name… Sabrina Ionescu.
Ionescu is arguably the biggest name in women’s basketball. The three-year starting point guard for the Oregon Ducks Women’s Basketball team will return for her senior season in 2019–20.
Ionescu has already shattered numerous records in her three seasons under head coach Kelly Graves. The most notable one is breaking the all-time NCAA triple-double record for either men’s or women’s basketball. Ionescu broke the record against Air Force on 12/20/18, where she had 17 points, 13 assists, and 11 rebounds.
The record-breaking triple-double was Ionescu’s thirteenth at that time. So far at the end of her junior year, Ionescu has 18 triple-doubles. Not only does she hold the record for most NCAA triple-doubles, but she also received the 2018–19 Wooden Award.
The Wooden Award recognizes the most outstanding player in women’s college basketball. Ionescu averaged 19.9 points, 8.2 assists, and 7.4 rebounds. She shot 44.3% from the field, 42.9% shooting from three, and 88.3% shooting from the free throw line.
Ionescu led her Oregon squad to the first ever final four appearance in program history. The Ducks battled against the Baylor Bears, where they were edged 72–67. Ionescu was held to 6–24 shooting on 18 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds.
Ionescu scored only one basket in the fourth. Ionescu was not happy with her performance, as she discussed in an ESPN article.
“We just have to learn from the mistakes that we made, and I think a lot of positive is going to come out from watching that game, seeing what we could have done better and what we need to work on,” Ionescu said.
The 21-year-old Ionescu wanted to return for her senior season and forgo the WNBA draft to take care of unfinished business. Ionescu pens a letter to Ducks Nation on the Player’s Tribune. She discusses how every year the team has gotten closer to reaching the national title.
“I came to the University of Oregon as a freshman in 2016–2017. We made the Elite Eight (and lost big),” Ionescu said. I came back to the University of Oregon as a sophomore in 2017–2018. We made the Elite Eight (and lost close). I came back to the University of Oregon as a junior in 2018–2019. We made the Final Four.
“And now I couldn’t be happier to announce that I’m coming back to the University of Oregon for the 2019–2020 basketball season. I won’t predict exactly how far we’re going to go….. but I’ll just say this. We have unfinished business.”
Ionescu has no days off. Just when the season ended, Ionescu added another honor to her resume: the 2019 USA Basketball 3x3 championship. She was joined by Oregon teammates Ruthy Hebard, Erin Boley, and Oti Gildon.
The 2019 title secured back-to-back championships for the Ionescu-led 3x3 team. Ionescu scored 17 of the 21 points in the championship game. Ionescu’s team won 21–20 over Team Drive in Las Vegas.
The Bay Area and Walnut Creek native, Sabrina Ionescu, went to high school just a few miles away from Saint Mary’s College. Ionescu was a standout point guard from Miramonte High School. Ionescu averaged 25.3 points, 8.8 assists, and 7.6 rebounds in her senior year. She also posted 4.5 steals and 1.3 blocks per game.
Ionescu was named the national player of the year by both USA today and Max Preps in her senior season. She was the fourth-ranked recruit by ESPNW out of high school. Ionescu also had offers from Cal and the University of Washington, before deciding to commit to Oregon.
Ionescu returned home for the first time in her college career to take on Saint Mary’s in the 2018–19 season. It was a true homecoming for the Miramonte graduate. Mckeon Pavilion in Moraga was packed with Oregon colors throughout the stands.
Oregon took care of the game easily, beating the Gaels 79–55 in the Saint Mary’s Thanksgiving Classic. Ionescu ended the game with 27 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists, while shooting 11–20 from the field and burying three 3-point field goals in 27 minutes.
Ionescu could be the player to bring women’s basketball to the spotlight. With numerous people saying that women’s basketball is not exciting to watch, just take a look at Sabrina Ionescu. Ionescu is currently the projected number one overall pick in the 2020 WNBA draft.
Ionescu blocks out the hate and lets her game do the talking. You have to take a look at how she responds to the online trolls. 👀
Having seen first hand the crowd Sabrina Ionescu draws, it is comparable to what NBA players draw from fans. Ionescu is a humble, poised, and intelligent young individual. Ionescu took the time to talks to an abundance of fans, sign autographs, and take pictures after the game at Saint Mary’s.
Ionescu only continues to grow. Sabrina enters her final college season with a chance to become the first player in NCAA women’s basketball history to reach 2,000+ points, 1,000+ rebounds, and 1,000+ assists. As with any great athlete, individual numbers don’t matter.
Her goal is to bring home the first ever championship back to Oregon.
“We’re seniors on a mission to win a national championship,” Ionescu said.
