Fans at Matthew Knight Arena for the Oregon women’s basketball team’s game Sunday, Nov. 16 against Army were treated to a unexpected show during halftime Sunday.
The Ducks held a free-throw contest, with every made shot good for $200 for charity. After the first contestant made just one free throw, a woman announced as “Jennifer Skone” stepped up to the line and airmailed her practice attempt. She then stepped in and made 10 free throws in a row and contributed well over $2,000 to charity by the time the clock ran out with an oddly familiar shooting motion.
“Jennifer” turned out to be none other than Oregon legend and New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu in disguise for the Amazon TV show “The Undercovers,” presented by former NFL quarterback Eli Manning.
Ionescu, who also helped run the halftime bingo contest, spoke to the crowd after revealing it was her in the disguise and indicated she and a film crew fooled several Oregon fans before the game on the concourse. But she added that she was thrilled to hear she was the favorite player of several people she talked to and apologized for lightheartedly deceiving fans.
Oregon coach Kelly Graves said he was fooled before the game by Ionescu’s disguise when he met “Jennifer.” He said he texted her this morning and she said she had something to do in Portland and wouldn’t be at the game.
“I had no idea who I was talking to,” Graves said. “We love Sabrina. I think that’s really neat.”
It’s unclear when the episode of the show will air, but athletes like Baker Mayfield, Justin Jefferson and Micah Parsons have been featured.
