The Maryland women’s basketball team will represent the U.S. at the World University Games next summer in Taiwan.
It’s just the second time that a women’s college team will play in the games as the American entry. UNC Charlotte participated in 2007. The Big 12 conference fielded a team in 2003.
“We are thrilled to represent our country at the World University Games,” coach Brenda Frese said.
“Our players are extremely excited. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for our program. What an incredible opportunity for our institution to represent our country in games against the best competition in the world.”
The Kansas men’s program did it in 2015 and Purdue will represent the U.S. in 2017.
The games are a multi-sport competition open to athletes between the ages of 17 and 24 who are enrolled in college or at most one year out of school. They will take place from Aug. 19-30 making it difficult for the U.S. to field a team of players from many different schools.
The American women have won nine golds, six silvers and one bronze medal. Maryland alum Brionna Jones helped the team win gold in 2015.
This will be the second consecutive year that Maryland has taken a foreign trip over the summer. The Terps, who have one of the best freshmen classes in the country, spent time in Italy this past summer. Frese was thrilled when she got the call asking if Maryland would be interested in going.
“We jumped at it,” she said. “You can only take a foreign trip once every four years and these trips are more about the bonding and experience then practices.”
The Terrapins are allowed to go away in consecutive summers because they would be representing the U.S. in Taiwan.
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