Monday started out with a history-making award for the University of Oregon women’s basketball program and the award announcements just kept coming throughout the day.
It all started, of course, with Oregon superstar Sabrina Ionescu, who was unanimously selected as the Associated Press women’s basketball player of the year. She is the first ever Duck to win the award and is just the second woman ever to receive the honor unanimously.
She joins UConn’s Breanna Stewart who was unanimously selected as the player of the year in 2016.
Later in the day, Ionescu and teammate Ruthy Hebard were named first team All-Americans again. This time the duo was selected and honored by the United States Basketball Writers Association. They were previously announced as first team All-Americans by the Associated Press last week.
Oregon junior Satou Sabally was named a second team All-American, according to the USBWA. It’s also her second All-American honor this season.
Oregon State senior Mikayla Pivec was also a USBWA All-American, earning honorable mention recognition. It’s her second such honor this year.
Wrapping up the day, Ionescu was announced as a finalist for the prestigious James E. Sullivan Award, handed out by the Amateur Athletic Union.
The Sullivan Award is presented annually to the nation’s most outstanding amateur athlete. Previous winners include Peyton Manning, Michelle Kwan, Michael Phelps, J.J. Reddick, Tim Tebow and Ezekiel Elliott.
No Oregon athlete has ever won the award and Ionescu is just the second Duck to be named a finalist, joining former volleyball standout Liz Brenner in 2012.
Voting for the award is open to the public at www.aausullivan.org. Finalist voting opened on Monday and will close on March 30, at 11:59 p.m.