Oregon Women’s Basketball: Ducks Start Season Ranked 11th
The Oregon Ducks were nearly forgotten last season as a 10 Seed, but a historic run in the NCAA Tournament has them ranked high entering 2017-18.
It should be no surprise that the number one team in the country to start the 2017-18 season is Connecticut. The Huskies took down Oregon last season in the Elite 8, a first ever for the Oregon Women’s Basketball Program. Head Coach Kelly Graves has the Ducks again poised for a run this season and getting to the Elite 8 last year has given the Oregon Women some National Respect.
The Oregon Ducks enter the poll just outside the Top 10 with key players in Sabrina Ionescu and Ruthy Hebard returning for their Sophomore seasons. The highest ranked Pac-12 team is UCLA(7). Stanford (9) is right behind. It is clear the game vs Connecticut last season put Oregon on the map, despite the loss.
The Ducks are just one of two teams in the Top 25 that had 14 losses last season. The other team is fellow Pac-12 foe California at 25. The Oregon State Beavers will begin 2017 ranked 17th in the Nation. Washington also entered the poll tied with Cal at 25.
The talent for the Oregon Women’s Basketball team could take them a long way this season, with the return of Ionescu and Hebard. Graves has dipped into the International Talent pool to bring in Satou Sabally from Germany who should have an impact early for the Ducks.
Aina Ayuso and Anelli Maley join Sabally as a very talented Freshman Class with big time experience playing at the International Level.
The Oregon Ducks will take part in a doubleheader with the Men’s Basketball team this weekend to raise funds for Oregon Wildfire Victims before starting the regular season next week.
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Admission on Saturday will cost $10 for both games. The Women take the court vs Portland State at 9:30 am in an early season exhibition.