Oregon guard Sabrina Ionescu arrived with grand expectations when she joined the women's basketball team last year. Through one season, which featured an Elite Eight appearance, the star guard has surpassed them.

And those expectations continue to grow.

On Thursday, ESPN released its latest installment of its top 25 women's basketball players. Ionescu was selected as the eighth best player in the sport.

"Like former Oklahoma star Stacey Dales for a new generation, Ionescu runs a game like a point guard, rebounds like a small forward and, when called upon, scores like a superstar," ESPN wrote.

Fellow Oregon sophomore Ruthy Heard was selected as the 25th best player on the list.

Ionescu and the Ducks have become a trendy pick to compete for a Pac-12 title this season. The team was picked second in the Pac-12 Media Poll released last month behind UCLA. The Ducks were also picked 11th in the AP and USA Today Preseason polls.

Ionescu was the Pac-12's Freshman of the Year last season. She averaged 14.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game in her first season in Eugene.

The Ducks open their season on Friday at 5 PM with a home tilt against Cal State Northridge.