Chambana Sun

The Illinois women's basketball team is set to embark on a foreign tour from August 2-12, visiting Italy and Greece. The trip aims to provide the Fighting Illini with opportunities for growth both on and off the court through exhibition games, educational tours, excursions, local cuisine, and cultural experiences.

Head coach Shauna Green expressed her enthusiasm for the upcoming journey. "I am very excited about this amazing opportunity that we have as a team to go on this trip," she said. "This allows us to have more practice time this summer and, obviously, gives us the early opportunity to compete together in a real game setting. The best thing about these trips is the amount of time our student-athletes get together to grow our relationships and become more connected. They will also get to experience different cultures, which helps in our overall development as people. We are very grateful for this opportunity and can't wait for August!"

NCAA regulations permit programs to take foreign trips once every four years. This 2024 tour marks the first under Green's leadership at Illinois and her second as a head coach following a 2018 trip to Italy with Dayton.

The team roster includes five newcomers among its 13 players for the 2024-25 season. The squad is coming off a WBIT championship run that provided valuable experience for its eight returning members. With ten additional summer practices and international exhibition games planned, there are ample opportunities for further development.

While details of their itinerary are still being finalized, planned destinations include Rome, Florence, and Naples in Italy, along with Athens and Glyfada in Greece.

The Illinois women's basketball program last traveled abroad in 2019 when they visited Australia.