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Sabrina Ionescu, Ruthy Hebard Chosen Again For USA Basketball 3×3 Team

By Justin Phillips

TAMPA, FLORIDA - APRIL 05: Sabrina Ionescu #20 of the Oregon Ducks drives to the basket against the Baylor Lady Bears during the first half in the semifinals of the 2019 NCAA Women's Final Four at Amalie Arena on April 05, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - APRIL 05: Sabrina Ionescu #20 of the Oregon Ducks drives to the basket against the Baylor Lady Bears during the first half in the semifinals of the 2019 NCAA Women's Final Four at Amalie Arena on April 05, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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Last summer saw Sabrina Ionescu and Ruthy Hebard help lead Team USA to a National Championship and fifth place finish Internationally in 3×3 play.

After leading the Oregon Ducks to their first Final Four in team history and a brief summer break, it is back to work for two of the best players in the nation. Sabrina Ionescu could be spending her first season as a professional this season, but she returned for her senior season with Oregon with unfinished business to complete.  Her teammate Ruthy Hebard is looking for a healthy start to the season after suffering through some injuries over the last two years.

Head Coach Kelly Graves has the Oregon Ducks on a key trajectory upwards with his 2020 Recruiting Class receiving 5-Stars across the board, a first for Oregon, let alone any other program on the country.

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Ionescu and Hebard will jumpstart the 2019 season in a familiar spot, playing for USA Basketball. Earlier this summer, Ionescu and Hebard along with teammate Lydia Giomi won the USA Basketball National Title in Las Vegas, now they take it to the next level.

The Pan American Games are at the end of July between the 27th and 29th and Ducks will be joined by two players from UConn for the competition, Olivia Nelson-Ododa, and Christyn Williams. The team will play three games on July 27th vs Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil followed by two games on the 28th vs Venezuela and the Dominican Republic.

The final day will seed the teams 1 through 6 to help determine the winner.

3×3 Basketball is on the rise, especially at the international level as it will be a part of the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.