Sabally's UO Swan Song At Hand

Since Ruthy Hebard and Sabrina Ionescu signed with Oregon in 2016, they've seen others members of their recruiting class take different paths.

Classmates Lydia Giomi and Morgan Yaeger needed redshirt years due to injury, and thus are juniors this season. Other members of the seven-woman class opted to pursue their careers elsewhere.

But while Hebard and Ionescu have become disconnected from some of their fellow signees, they've gained new cohorts. Minyon Moore joined the Ducks this season as a graduate transfer. And for as much as Hebard and Ionescu will be inextricably linked in the memories of Oregon fans, junior Satou Sabally has made herself part of a "Big Three" with that duo this season.

Thus, in a way it feels appropriate that, after announcing her decision to enter this year's WNBA draft, Sabally will be honored alongside Ionescu and Hebard plus Moore during Oregon's senior day ceremony Sunday.

"I never really thought of her as younger than me," Hebard said. "Even (Sabally's) freshman year, she came in and made such an impact. So it's fitting she's leaving with us."

The Ducks (26-2, 15-1 Pac-12) kick off the final weekend of the regular season against Washington State in Matthew Knight Arena on Friday (8 p.m., Pac-12). The regular-season finale is against Washington on Sunday (noon, Pac-12), after which Oregon's departing players will be honored — Sabally included.

Because she will be 22 years old later this year, Sabally is eligible to compete in the WNBA this upcoming season. Last week she announced her intention to do so, unburdening her mind from the stress of the decision.

"I feel so much more relaxed now," said Sabally, who is on track to finish her degree later this year. "And I can focus on what's at hand."

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On Monday, the Ducks, Stanford and everyone else saw what an unburdened Sabally looks like. Still stinging from Oregon's loss to the Cardinal in last year's Pac-12 Tournament title game, Sabally scored a team-high 27 points as the No. 3 Ducks beat the No. 4 Cardinal, 74-66.

Along with wanting vengeance against the Cardinal, Sabally was motivated to play well for her teammate Ionescu, who began Monday by speaking at Kobe Bryant's memorial service and took the court later that night with an upset stomach.

"There was a laser-like focus in our locker room before the game," UO associate head coach Mark Campbell said. "And then when they were out on the court warming up, you could just feel it and sense it, that our team was ready."

Sabally set the tone, although Ionescu dug deep to finish with a triple-double, in the process becoming the first player in NCAA Division-I history to reach 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 1,000 assists in her career. Sabally added nine rebounds, the eighth time in her last 13 games she's had at least that many.

A uniquely talented athlete, Sabally flourished as a scorer during her sophomore season, shooting 50.5 percent from the field and 41.1 percent from three-point range to average 16.6 points per game and earn all-Pac-12 honors. Her scoring average this year is about the same — 16.5 points per game — but Sabally's 7.3 rebounds per game are almost double her average as a freshman

And since being challenged in January to become a better distributor, Sabally has twice had games with six assists.

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"Sabrina has always had a gift of, when she steps on the court, she impacts the other four players," Campbell said. "There's a confidence she gives them. And Satou is stepping into that role, where when Satou steps on the court, she gives everybody else confidence that we're the best team."

Sabally's decision to leave school early will deprive her of the chance to play with her younger sister, Nyara, who is recovering from a knee injury this year. But her sister was "always 100 percent with me" as Sabally began to lean toward leaving after this season.

Watching Oregon next year without Ionescu, Hebard and Sabally will take an adjustment period for UO fans. But the next generation shows promise as well – there will be a strong group of returning underclassmen led by Taylor Chavez and Jaz Shelley, and an incoming class featuring five five-star prospects.

"They'll be able to just rip the Band-Aid off and start a new era," Sabally said. "I feel like that will be good. They will be able to identify their own DNA."

Watching the young Ducks without Sabally will feel odd. But watching Sabally celebrated with her fellow Oregon women's basketball luminaries Sunday afternoon will feel perfectly fitting.