Former Oregon point guard Sabrina Ionescu makes first WNBA Finals appearance

FILE – New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu celebrates after competing in the WNBA All-Star skills event Friday, July 14, 2023, in Las Vegas. The Liberty are hitting their stride after capping off a brutal stretch of their schedule with a convincing win over the Las Vegas Aces. “They got us at their place really good, and we wanted to come in ready, to show our fans and ourselves how much we’ve improved over the last few months,” said New York guard Sabrina Ionescu after the 99-61 win over Las Vegas on Sunday, Aug. 6. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP)

by: Matt Rawlings

Posted: Oct 8, 2023 / 08:00 AM PDT

Updated: Oct 5, 2023 / 07:40 PM PDT

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Before being selected with the top overall pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft, Sabrina Ionescu had the Oregon Ducks on the cusp of competing for a national title before the NCAA Tournament was canceled due to COVID-19.

Although it won’t be with the Ducks, Ionescu has an opportunity to take home a championship starting on Sunday.

Ionescu and the Liberty (32-8) will take on the Las Vegas Aces (34-6) in a best-of-five series starting Sunday, with Game 1 tipping off at noon.

Ionescu was second on the team in points per game (17) and assists per game (5.4) this season. She also made her second All-Star-Game appearance in 2023 and was selected to the All-WNBA team for the first time in her career.