Sooners to Face Oregon in PK80 Event

NORMAN – The Oklahoma women's basketball team will take on Oregon next season in the PK80 Invitational at Matthew Knight Arena on Nov. 25, 2017.

Along with the PK80 men's basketball invitational taking place in Portland next season, the one-day women's basketball doubleheader in Eugene, Ore., will feature Connecticut taking on Michigan State to kick off the event. The Sooners and the Ducks will compete in the final game of the doubleheader.

PK80 is a basketball event honoring Nike co-founder and 2012 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, Phil Knight, in advance of his 80th birthday. The men's tournament in Portland, taking place on Thursday, Friday and Sunday of the same weekend as the women's games in Eugene, features the Ducks plus Arkansas, Butler, UConn, Duke, Florida, Georgetown, Gonzaga, Michigan State, North Carolina, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Portland, Portland State, Stanford and Texas.

OKLAHOMA HEAD COACH SHERRI COALE
“This event is an extraordinary way to honor Phil Knight and his visionary leadership. He has made a profound impact on college basketball and we're excited for the opportunity to be a part of this field.”

OREGON HEAD COACH KELLY GRAVES
“We're honored to be a part of the celebration for Phil Knight. He has done so much for our university, our state and the game of basketball. It's an amazing opportunity for our fans to see some really great competition and I'm very excited to be playing in it.”

UCONN HEAD COACH GENO AURIEMMA
“I am already looking forward to competing in the Phil Knight Invitational out in Oregon next November. 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 then to host a competitive event in his name?”

MICHIGAN STATE HEAD COACH SUZY MERCHANT
“First, I think to have the opportunity to celebrate somebody who has been so influential in our culture as a country and now globally is something pretty special. Phil Knight has done so much with his successes and given back and built a dynasty and a brand that is recognizable to everyone in the world. How neat is it to be able to celebrate somebody who has really built something from nothing? And then to have the opportunity to play UConn? Every girl grows up knowing that UConn is an amazing basketball team and to be able to play them even on a neutral site makes it even better. We are looking forward to it. To be the best you have to compete against the best. We are looking forward to the challenge ahead."

For more information on Oklahoma women's basketball, follow the Sooners on Twitter (@OU_WBBall) or like Oklahoma Sooners Women's Basketball on Facebook.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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