Sabrina Ionescu Gets Her Own Day 🎉

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What to Know About Women’s Basketball Today

1. Today Is Sabrina Ionescu Day 🗓️

WNBA champion and three-time All-Star Sabrina Ionescu just earned a new honor, this one from the home of her college alma mater, the University of Oregon. Eugene, Oregon has officially declared May 12 as Sabrina Ionescu Day. (The Register-Guard)

WHY IT MATTERS: Eugene Mayor Kaarin Knudson surprised Ionescu with the proclamation to recognize the impact she made as a standout at the University of Oregon. Ionescu was a dominant force for the Ducks, becoming the Naismith College Player of the Year before being selected No. 1 overall in the 2020 WNBA Draft by the New York Liberty.

The timing couldn’t be better: tonight, Ionescu and the Liberty, including fellow Oregon alum Nyara Sabally, will play their final preseason game at the University of Oregon’s Matthew Knight Arena.

📺 New York Liberty vs. Toyota Antelopes – 10:00 PM ET | WNBA League Pass

2. Valkyries Earn Their First Win in Franchise History 🥇

The Golden State Valkyries made history on Sunday, earning their first-ever win as a WNBA franchise with an 84–79 preseason victory over the Phoenix Mercury. (Valkyries)

WHY IT MATTERS: Veteran Kayla Thornton set the tone early, putting up 9 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 steals in the first quarter. Though Phoenix surged ahead in the second, leading by seven at halftime, the Valkyries showed resilience, draining seven threes in the third quarter to tie it up and pulling ahead late. Rookie Migna Touré scored a game-high 19 points off the bench.

While preseason games are used to experiment with lineups and rotations, it’s promising to see this young squad adapting to their new program so quickly and finding ways to win.

The Valkyries will open their regular season at home this Friday against the Los Angeles Sparks.

👉 Watch Migna Touré’s highlights from the Valkyries’ historic win

3. Lynx’s Dorka Juhász to Sit Out 2025 Season ❤️‍🩹

The Minnesota Lynx have announced that forward Dorka Juhász will miss the entire 2025 WNBA season to “rest and recover after playing year-round for the last two years.” (Minnesota Lynx)

WHY IT MATTERS: Juhász was a key contributor off the bench for the Lynx in 2024, averaging 4.8 points and 3.8 rebounds in 16 minutes per game. A 2023 second-round pick and All-Rookie Team selection, the Hungarian native has also been competing year-round in the EuroLeague and for Hungary’s national team.

Her decision to step away highlights a growing issue in women’s pro basketball: the physical toll of year-round play, often necessary for players on league-minimum contracts who take overseas jobs to boost their income. Juhász has been going non-stop since leaving UConn in spring 2023.