Matthew Knight Arena has never championed an athlete quite like the one who will be making their triumphant return on Monday evening. Sabrina Ionescu dazzled the Eugene crowd for four record-breaking seasons, and now five years later, the WNBA superstar is set to play an exhibition game at MKA.

Ionescu and the reigning champion New York Liberty will square off with the Japanese-based Toyota Antelopes at 7 PM on Monday evening. The game caps WNBA preseason play, and finishes this year’s trend of sending superstars like A’ja Wilson and Caitlin Clark back to their old stomping grounds.

“I’m so excited for the game. It’s going to be packed in here. It’s going to be loud,” Ionescu told reporters following Monday morning’s shootaround. “I’ve come back so many time since graduating, but obviously never with my team and never here for work and to have to play. It’s been fun to be back. It’s kind of reminiscent of me feeling like I’m here wearing an Oregon jersey and playing against another team. It’s been fun to take it all in. There’s a huge buzz in the city about us coming back and playing.”

Ionescu remains Oregon’s school-record holder in points, assists and three-point makes, while also being the school’s only two-time Wooden Award winner and the NCAA’s all-time triple-double leader for men or women.

Now a WNBA champ and 3-point contest record-holder, she won’t be in luxuriating in the fanfare alone. Nyara Sabally, who starred at Oregon as well, will be back as well, giving local fans two homegrown stars to cheer on.

“It’s super exciting. I’m excited to be back here playing in front of the Duck fans, especially with the Liberty team. I think it’s going to be a really cool event. We’re all just really excited,” Sabally said on Monday. “Whoever came up with that, it was a really good idea. It’s a really fun thing to do to be able to go back and give the fans that experience that have supported you your entire career.”

Ionescu never set up this Sabally sister with a pass or vice-versa. Their in-game chemistry wasn’t berthed in Eugene, as Sabally’s knee injuries kept them from ever doing so, but their friendship was, Sabally says.

“It’s always been a really good relationship, ever since coming to Oregon,” Sabally said. “We were really close in college and then being able to play with her in the pros is amazing, and seeing her grow as a person and as a player, it just means the world.”

And she isn’t the only one whose observed how meaningful that growth has been. Ionescu is now a global basketball icon. Eugene mayor Kaarin Knudson declared this date as Sabrina Ionescu Day over the weekend.

“I don’t know what that means to wake up on my own day. I feel like we should just make it a national holiday and everyone should get off from work and school,” Ionescu quipped. “It’s been amazing so far.”

What she does know is what to expect from the MKA crowd. With a near sellout expected, she can’t wait for her teammates, many of which played at basketball powerhouses, to witness the outcry of support.

“They’re not just fans who show up and have never watched a game before. They’re in tune with what’s going on, and are really fans of who we are as individuals. You can feel that love and that support. That’s what I felt through my four years at Oregon, but also well beyond that, and I think they’re going to feel that tonight,” she said.

Ionescu has made many special memories at this venue. She expects Monday will be no different.

“Every kind of memory holds a special place. From the early days of coming here at 5 or 6 AM getting shots up before school to beating Team USA and doing that in front of a sellout crowd. I feel like there are so many memories that were built in this arena and I’m excited to make another one,” she said. “Talking to everyone who is playing professionally now, whether it’s in football or other sports, it’s like everyone’s dream to come back and play one more game in Autzen or one more game in Matt Knight, because it’s just so special here. For me to be able to do it, I’m not taking this moment for granted.”