The Liberty’s exhibition in Eugene exemplifies the power of sports
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Quick Summary:
- Former Oregon stars Sabrina Ionescu and Nyara Sabally played for the New York Liberty on May 12. Matthew Knight Arena hosted a sold-out crowd of 12,364 fans, sitting shoulder-to-shoulder. In what sometimes feels like an incredibly divisive world, this was a community united by an appreciation for a pair of athletes who represented something far more than just their play on the basketball court. The Daily Emerald writer says she fell in love with the women’s game because of them and followed them to the pros, where they introduced her to more women”s basketball players and teams. She says they helped the Ducks go from bringing in a few thousand fans every game to over 10,000 fans each time she was on the floor. The game provided a reminder of the power of sports to bring people from different backgrounds together, she says. It also reminded her of why her career in sports media began, she writes, and she’s grateful that she got the opportunity to see the Eugene community show out for women’s professional basketball as a student at the University of Oregon. It’s exciting watching and covering teams that host NCAA Tournament games or athletes who are named Big Ten Player of the Week, she adds
- The sellout crowd exemplified the popularity in Oregon of women’s basketball. Portland was awarded an expansion team last September. Ionescu set the NCAA record, among women and men, for triple-doubles. The Oregon State women have had success in recent years, at times outdrawing the men.“I’m so excited. Understanding the fan base that is built here in Eugene, but in Oregon as a whole, and knowing they’re going to come out and support,” Ionescu says of the Portland team.. The Golden State Valkyries will begin play in the San Francisco Bay Area this season and Toronto will join Portland in 2026. The Portland Fire played in Portland from 2000 until 2002 and averaged more than 8,000 fans before folding. The city is also home to the nation’s first bar exclusively for women’s sports, the Sports Bra, which opened in 2022. The Thorns of the National Women’s Soccer League routinely draw upwards of 17,000Fans to games. The New York Liberty will play the Toyota Antelopes in a preseason game at the University of Oregon on Monday night.
Country-by-Country Breakdown:
Original Coverage
Former Oregon stars Sabrina Ionescu and Nyara Sabally played for the New York Liberty on May 12. Matthew Knight Arena hosted a sold-out crowd of 12,364 fans, sitting shoulder-to-shoulder. In what sometimes feels like an incredibly divisive world, this was a community united by an appreciation for a pair of athletes who represented something far more than just their play on the basketball court. The Daily Emerald writer says she fell in love with the women’s game because of them and followed them to the pros, where they introduced her to more women”s basketball players and teams. She says they helped the Ducks go from bringing in a few thousand fans every game to over 10,000 fans each time she was on the floor. The game provided a reminder of the power of sports to bring people from different backgrounds together, she says. It also reminded her of why her career in sports media began, she writes, and she’s grateful that she got the opportunity to see the Eugene community show out for women’s professional basketball as a student at the University of Oregon. It’s exciting watching and covering teams that host NCAA Tournament games or athletes who are named Big Ten Player of the Week, she adds Read full article
Oregon gets a taste of a WNBA future via preseason Liberty game
The sellout crowd exemplified the popularity in Oregon of women’s basketball. Portland was awarded an expansion team last September. Ionescu set the NCAA record, among women and men, for triple-doubles. The Oregon State women have had success in recent years, at times outdrawing the men.“I’m so excited. Understanding the fan base that is built here in Eugene, but in Oregon as a whole, and knowing they’re going to come out and support,” Ionescu says of the Portland team.. The Golden State Valkyries will begin play in the San Francisco Bay Area this season and Toronto will join Portland in 2026. The Portland Fire played in Portland from 2000 until 2002 and averaged more than 8,000 fans before folding. The city is also home to the nation’s first bar exclusively for women’s sports, the Sports Bra, which opened in 2022. The Thorns of the National Women’s Soccer League routinely draw upwards of 17,000Fans to games. The New York Liberty will play the Toyota Antelopes in a preseason game at the University of Oregon on Monday night. Read full article
Global Perspectives Summary:
Global media portray this story through varied cultural, economic, and political filters. While some focus on geopolitical ramifications, others highlight local impacts and human stories. Some nations frame the story around diplomatic tensions and international relations, while others examine domestic implications, public sentiment, or humanitarian concerns. This diversity of coverage reflects how national perspectives, media freedom, and journalistic priorities influence what the public learns about global events.
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Sources:
Source: https://dailyemerald.com/165877/sports/the-libertys-exhibition-in-eugene-exemplifies-the-power-of-sports/