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Sabrina Ionescu sets NCAA triple-double record, sets ESPN straight

By Sarabeth Pollock

PALO ALTO, CA - FEBRUARY 10: Oregon Guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) celebrates during the women's basketball game between the Oregon Ducks and the Stanford Cardinal at Maples Pavilion on February 10, 2019 in Palo Alto, CA. (Photo by Cody Glenn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
PALO ALTO, CA - FEBRUARY 10: Oregon Guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) celebrates during the women's basketball game between the Oregon Ducks and the Stanford Cardinal at Maples Pavilion on February 10, 2019 in Palo Alto, CA. (Photo by Cody Glenn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Oregon’s Sabrina Ionescu nabbed her 18th triple-double as the Ducks claimed a win against Indiana in the 2019 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament.

There’s no better stage to set an NCAA record than at the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, which wasn’t lost on Oregon’s Sabrina Ionescu. The Ducks’ outspoken guard knew that all eyes were on her to set the record, even if the spotlight was missing on the big event.

Ionescu needed one rebound to notch her record-setting 18th career triple-double and when the right moment came along in Sunday night’s game she took it, putting a little extra English on a three-point attempt so that she could grab her own rebound.

She admitted after the game that she’d hoped to miss that three-pointer to secure the rebound, and it worked in her favor. She finished the night with 29 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds. Not only did she set the bar on the triple-double record, she also had the most points in a triple-double.

With her 10th rebound in the bag, Ionescu logged her 18th triple-double, passing BYU’s Kyle Collingsworth to own the overall NCAA basketball record. If she stays at Oregon to play out her senior year instead of going into the WNBA draft, she has a chance to add to her already impressive record to ensure that it holds for a long while.

Ionescu, who has no problem speaking her mind, is aware that being a woman and owning an overall NCAA basketball record is no small feat. She’s glad she was able to accomplish this achievement at the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament but she noted that even though ESPN is home to coverage of the women’s tournament it likely wouldn’t get much attention.

Ionescu made her feelings known to ABC affiliate KEZI’s Ronald Clark: “It’s awesome to get [a triple-double] in the tournament. It probably still won’t get recognized because ESPN never recognizes women’s sports players that are getting triple-doubles. But I’m just happy that I was able to do it in front of the home crowd and with everyone supporting me.”

She isn’t wrong. That kind of accomplishment would definitely become front page news for ESPN’s flagship SportsCenter, but women’s hoops doesn’t have the kind of reach as the men’s tournament.

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If she sticks around to finish her college career at Oregon, there’s a good chance that Ionescu will make sure she’s being seen and heard, and that’s a good thing.

Oregon will make its third Sweet 16 appearance in a row on Friday, March 29.