Sabrina Ionescu drives up the court for Miramonte High while head coach Kelly Sopak watches from the sideline. The 2016 graduate went on to become a WNBA champion, Olympic gold medalist and four-time All-Star, achievements that led the Acalanes Union High School District to rename the school’s facility the Sabrina Ionescu Gymnasium in honor of her legacy and impact on women’s basketball.
After a bit of controversy, Miramonte High School’s gymnasium is now officially the Sabrina Ionescu Gymnasium, a move unanimously approved through an Acalanes Union High School District (AUHSD) board vote. The gym is now the district’s first athletic facility named after a woman.
“I know the Miramonte community is excited,” said AUHSD Superintendent Dr. John Nickerson. “It’s something that we’re very happy about, and it’s long overdue.”
A 2016 Miramonte graduate, Ionescu shone brightly on the high school’s court, blowing through record after record for points, steals and assists. Following graduation, the MaxPreps’ Player of the Year headed to the University of Oregon, where she proceeded to make NCAA history with her performance on the college court and won every major award in the sport in 2020.
After being drafted as the first overall pick in 2020, Ionescu helped lead the New York Liberty to their very first WNBA Championship in 2024, and played on the US Women’s National Team that won gold in the Paris Olympics that same year.
Ionescu has been named to the WNBA All-Star team for the past four seasons, and her Nike collaboration in 2023 produced the first-ever, fully unisex signature shoe from the company.
Meanwhile, Ionescu’s SI20 Foundation works to improve accessibility to sports and helps youth foster connections through sports.
The proposal to name Miramonte High’s gym after Ionescu garnered plenty of community support. Miramonte High principal Ben Campopiano had formally expressed his support for “Sabrina Ionescu Gymnasium” in an August 2025 letter to Nickerson.
“Sabrina truly represents the best of what it means to be a Miramonte Matador,” said Campopiano in a press release from the school’s alumni association.
The renaming criteria listed in the school board policy manual includes one stating that individuals, living or deceased, who have made contributions of state, national or global significance, are eligible for consideration.
Nickerson said he believes that was the criteria the board anchored the Ionescu proposal on, as he noted Sabrina’s “huge contributions” at each level, even at her young age.
An advisory committee consisting of at least one AUHSD administrator, as well as a district student, parent, certificated staff member, classified staff member and community member, none affiliated with Miramonte High, considered the proposal in September. In October, the committee had come to a consensus to name Miramonte’s court, rather than the gymnasium, after Ionescu.
Nickerson said the school board asked staff to find out more information and talk to more people in the Miramonte community.
“The chief business official who oversees our facilities then had a conversation with some of the people who are making the proposal, some other interested community members of Miramonte brought that information to the board, then the board voted 5-0” in November, in favor of renaming the entire gym,” said Nickerson.
The approval of the gym’s renaming comes alongside a separate facility modernization campaign launched by the school. Funds raised will go toward fresh paint inside and out, new scoreboards, bleachers and more.
“Sabrina set a standard of excellence for future Miramonte athletes to follow,” said Sean Hennessy, Miramonte’s athletic director. “Her competitive fire, leadership and commitment to her teammates define what it means to be a Matador. We’re thrilled to have her name on the gym where so many of those qualities were shaped.”
Nickerson said Ionescu’s performance on the court left a lasting impression on Miramonte High, as she was part of some of the most successful basketball teams ever at the school.
“They advanced to the State Open Division Championship game in her senior year, which is an incredible accomplishment for a school the size of Miramonte,” he said.
“The image that’s portrayed through the media today is authentic of who she is,” Nickerson added. “She’s a leader, she has an incredible work ethic, she makes everyone around her better, and she’s just such a quality person.”
“Sabrina truly embodies the excellence and character we strive for at Miramonte,” said Campopiano. “By naming our gymnasium in her honor, we are providing a permanent reminder to every student that success is built on a foundation of humility, hard work, and heart. Her legacy represents the very best of the Matador spirit, and having her name on our campus will inspire generations of students to dream big and lead with purpose.”