CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Charlotte women’s basketball team just wrapped up its European tour of Italy and Greece, returning after traveling to Rome, Sorrento and Athens from Aug. 5-15. In each of the three cities, the Niners faced international competition, toured historic sites and built lifelong memories and team bonds as they continue to prepare for their first year under Tomekia Reed.

June 28 was move-in day for the Niners, with 10 new players coming to campus for the first time to begin their careers in Charlotte, along with four returnees from the 2023-24 squad. Because of the European tour, Coach Reed was able to accelerate summer workouts and drills in preparation for Italy and Greece, and had additional practice time to implement their offensive and defensive strategies.

“We had only been together for about a month before we set off on this trip,” said the newcomer Hayleigh Brelanda transfer who played for Reed at Jackson State. “We were very fortunate to have this European tour in August. It was great to have this once-in-a-lifetime experience with my teammates and build bonds with each other that didn’t exist before.”

ROME, ITALY
The first day in Rome included a visit to the historic Colosseum, the largest ancient amphitheater in the world. Construction began in 72 AD and was completed in 80 AD. The building was widely known for its gladiatorial fights and public spectacles.

“It was very cool to see the Colosseum up close and personal,” said Sarah. “It’s impressive to think they built this without the modern technology we have today. There was so much history to see in Rome and our team enjoyed the experience and was grateful for it.”

After the tour, the Niners enjoyed a team meal before preparing for their first game of the trip. The excitement was palpable throughout the team and staff for the opportunity to enjoy authentic Italian food.

“Eating authentic Italian and Greek dishes was my favorite part of the trip,” said Kayla Green. “Experiencing new foods and cultures was something I was looking forward to before coming here. I sent my family pictures of all the dishes I tried and I’m sure they were jealous.

The game against Rome Select was Charlotte’s first match against an opponent under Reed.

“I was very proud of our team’s performance,” Reed said. “We’re a new team with 14 players and we’re going up against three international teams that have been playing together for some time. Right now, we want to be masters of the details and find team chemistry. We were able to mix and match rotations during our stay and get everyone playing time. I’m happy with the depth of our team.”

THE VATICAN / GAME TWO
Next on the Rome itinerary was a tour of the Vatican, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. This district is home to the seat of the Roman Catholic Church and the Pope, as well as numerous iconic works of art and buildings.

“Vatican City was my favorite part of the trip,” said Jordan Peete. “I enjoyed learning about the history and seeing all the art. Seeing the Michelangelo painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in person was unique.”

Pope Sixtus IV had the Sistine Chapel built between 1473 and 1481. Today it serves as the site of the conclave, i.e. the election of a new pope. Between 1508 and 1512, Michelangelo painted the ceiling of the chapel, which is considered one of the greatest artistic achievements of human civilization.

After the tour, the Niners prepared for the second game of their trip against Angri Select. Between the trips, tours and games, the Niners were severely exhausted.

“Coach Reed talks to us a lot about how we have to overcome adversity to have the success our team wants to achieve,” said Jordan Peete“We were all tired from traveling and touring, but we were able to recover from slow starts in some of our games this week and put together some periods of high-quality basketball. Overall, I would say our team took some positives from this trip on the basketball court.”

SORRENTO, ITALY
The Niners arrived in Sorrento late Thursday night (August 8) after the game. Friday morning, the team set out on a kayaking tour along the Sorrento coast. Players, coaches and staff enjoyed a morning on the water after three long days of traveling, touring and playing.

On Friday afternoon (August 9th), Charlotte hosted a community service basketball training camp with children from the Sorrento area. The team hosted a one-hour outdoor camp with drills and fun games for the children. It was a great experience for everyone involved to see how basketball can bring people from different countries, cultures and backgrounds together.

On Saturday and Sunday (August 10-11), the team enjoyed two days on the boat, touring the coasts of the islands of Amalfi, Positano and Capri. On Capri, the Niners had their own private boat tour and were able to enjoy an afternoon of swimming.

“We are a new team and this trip was very necessary for us to feel comfortable with each other both on and off the pitch,” said Kayla Green. “We enjoy team life and all the trips have helped build a sense of team chemistry.”

ATHENS, GREECE
On Monday (August 12), Charlotte flew from Naples, Italy to Athens, Greece for the third and final stop on her European tour. After arriving, the Niners had free time and participated in an optional bike tour of Athens for players, coaches and staff.

“I really enjoyed the bike tour through Athens,” said Hayleigh Breland“It was very interesting to see the Panathenaic Stadium (where the first modern Olympic Games were held in 1896) and the changing of the guard in front of the Presidential Palace in Athens.”

On Tuesday, the Niners made their final tour of the Acropolis of Athens, an ancient citadel on a rocky outcrop above the city that contains the remains of several ancient buildings, including the most famous, the Parthenon. The sculpture is considered one of the highlights of classical Greek art, dating to the fifth century B.C.

Charlotte then regrouped for their final game of the evening against the Swiss senior national team. The previous games and the time spent together on the road gave the Niners new confidence and trust in each other.

“The coaching staff’s trust and belief in us rubs off on the players,” said Jordan Peete. “Throughout the European tour, they have unwaveringly believed in us, no matter how the game turned out. This affirmation gave us the extra motivation we needed to keep fighting and overcome adversity in the game.”

Kayla Green repeated this opinion.

“Coach Reed instills confidence in each of us. She believes in everyone. When you as a player know that your coaches and teammates believe in you, it gives you the confidence that leads to success on the field.”

On the last day of the trip before returning to Charlotte, the Niners enjoyed a day of rest and relaxation at the Bolivar Beach Club. Later that evening, they had dinner with the team before catching an early flight back to the USA later that morning.

THANKS
“It was a great experience for our players to go on a tour to several historic sites,” said Coach Reed. “Lots of team spirit and getting to know each other better on and off the field. Great things are happening in our program right now! We want to thank everyone who made this trip possible: Mike Hill and Ragean Hill from AD, donors, alumni and everyone who supported our program. This trip was a memory our team will cherish for the rest of their lives and we are very grateful to have been able to participate in this tour!”