Oregon Ducks News: Shane Lemieux days until Duck football, Sabrina sits out as NY falls, Sinicki's pro debut

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It's Shane Lemieux days until the opening game of Duck football against Montana State. Lemieux (68) started 52 straight games for the Ducks from 2016-2019, winning the Rose Bowl in his senior year. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
It's Shane Lemieux days until the opening game of Duck football against Montana State. Lemieux (68) started 52 straight games for the Ducks from 2016-2019, winning the Rose Bowl in his senior year. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images | Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

Number of days until Duck football: 68

It's 30 days until Big Ten Media days in Las Vegas, and 38 days until Oregon starts August camp.

Team captain Shane Lemieux came to the Ducks out of Yakima, Washington, a first-team All-American in 2018. Drafted in the fifth round by the New York Giants, he's played five years in the NFL.

For the Ducks Lemieux played left guard, an iron man who played over 900 snaps in each of his last three seasons. As a redshirt freshman and sophomore he was paired with Greenville High, Las Vegas left tackle Tyrell Crosby, giving the Ducks a front line of Crosby and Lemieux, a jersey combination that endeared them to hockey fans.

Storm overwhelm New York Liberty 89-79 as Sabrina sits out

In Sunday WNBA action the defending champion New York Liberty lost back-to-back road games and three of four overall as they fell 89-79 in Seattle.

Shooting guard Sabrina Ionescu sat out the game with a neck injury. Down three starters with Jonquel Jones and Leonie Fiebech also out, New York led 42-41 at the half but slumped in the third quarter.

Breanna Stewart led the Liberty with 18 points and 9 rebounds. Former Duck Nyara Sabally started, good for eight points and nine rebounds in 31 minutes, two blocks and 2-2 from the line.

Paige Sinicki gets her first start as a pro

Oregon Gold Glove shortstop Paige Sinicki began her pro career this weekend as she started for the Talons in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League.

AUSL is a touring league of four teams, the Talons, Volts, Bandits and Blaze, sponsored by Major League Baseball. In 2025 the four teams will play a 24-game season with games in 10 U.S. cities followed by a best two-of-three championship series in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Player salaries range from $40-45,000, with the possibility to earn as much as $75,000 through bonus payments. The team feature a bevy of former collegiate stars. The games are broadcast free on a variety of channels, available on the MLB Network, ESPN and Youtube.

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