Bridgeport — UConn and Oregon, opponents in Monday's NCAA women's basketball tournament Bridgeport Regional final, will also both be a part of Nike co-founder Phil Knight's 80th birthday celebration in November.

In addition to the men's tournament taking place that weekend in Portland, Ore., the PK80 Invitational, a one-day women's doubleheader will be played at Oregon's Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene on Nov. 25. UConn plays Michigan State and Oregon matches up with Oklahoma.

“Nike has always been very, very adamant about we're all part of a family thing,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma said this week, speaking of the Huskies' longstanding association with Nike as a sponsor. “That's how it's handled. That's how it's run. That's how it's gotten to be where it is.

“That's why they are who they are because of the way they treat people and the way we treat each other. You know? I don't know. Maybe there's an extra pair of sneakers in Kelly's room last night for beating an Under Armour school (Maryland in the Sweet 16). There's a little bit of competition there.”

“Kelly” is Oregon third-year coach Kelly Graves, who previously coached at Gonzaga.

Auriemma said it was through UConn's ties to Nike that he first became acquainted with Graves.

“When we all get together as coaches, all the Nike coaches, that's where we kind of establish a certain bond, a certain familiarity with each other,” Auriemma said. “… You do get to interact with other coaches and some you do get to be friends with and you do get to follow their careers and all that.”

UConn will also take part in the men's portion of the tournament.

Knight was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012 as a contributor for being “one of the most influential and significant businessmen in the game of basketball.” Nike is headquartered in Beaverton, Ore.

Oregon's 12,000-plus seat arena is named after Knight's late son, Matt.

“I am already looking forward to competing in the Phil Knight Invitational out in Oregon next November,” Auriemma said in a statement when the tournament was announced earlier this year. “Eugene is a beautiful town and Matt Knight Arena is one of the most impressive facilities that I have ever set foot in. It will be a great experience for us to play a quality opponent like Michigan State so far from home in what will surely be a first-class event. What better way to celebrate Phil Knight's 80th than to host a competitive event in his name?”

“We're honored to be a part of the celebration for Phil Knight,” Graves said in the statement. “He has done so much for our university, our state and the game of basketball.”

Freshman of the Year

Oregon's Sabrina Ionescu was named the espnW National Freshman of the Year earlier this month. Ionescu was averaging 14.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists heading into Monday's game, placing her 10th in the Pac-12 Conference in scoring, 11th in rebounding and third in assists.

Ionescu was the USA Today national player of the year while a senior at Miramonte High School in Orinda, Calif., before leading Oregon to the program's first Elite Eight bid in program history this season.

“It's not really a surprise what she's doing because she has the kind of game that is a little bit older than she is, which is not usual,” said Auriemma, who spent time watching Ionescu play during the recruiting process.

“Usually kids play right about their age. She plays a little bit older because her game is not necessarily based on how fast she is or her ability to … she just has her own unique style, the way she plays and it's fun to watch and it's effective. It's exactly what this team needs for them.”

And more

Oregon was looking to become the fourth-Pac 12 team in the Final Four in the last two seasons, joining Oregon State and Washington (2016) and Stanford (2017). … UConn faced four of the other seven schools in the Elite Eight during the regular season, defeating Florida State (78-76), Baylor (72-61), Notre Dame (72-61) and South Carolina (66-55).

v.fulkerson@theday.com