Wake Forest Athletics
Elisa Penna to Train with Italian Senior National Team
5/12/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
By Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeWBB)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Wake Forest forward Elisa Penna will spend the next month training with the Italian national team with the hopes of making the final squad that will compete in EuroBasket Women 2017, held June 16-25 in the Czech Republic.
"This is an incredible opportunity. To me, it's an honor to wear the Italian jersey and to be able to represent my country during the training camp," said Penna. "It's a dream that comes true. Having the opportunity to practice and compete with, and learn from the best Italian players and staff is something I cannot really describe. I would like to thank all my coaches, teammates and those at Wake Forest that helped me to reach this important event with the national team."
Penna, who has represented the Italian youth national team, is making her first appearance on the senior circuit. The native of Bergamo, Italy is one of 18 players currently with the team in Italy who, over the course of the next month, will take part in several training sessions and eight friendly games. At the conclusion of the month-long training, the team will be trimmed down to the final 12 members who will then compete at EuroBasket Women 2017.
Italy has been placed in Group B of the 16-team tournament featuring teams across Europe, and will be joined by Belarus, Turkey and Slovakia. The four teams will play one another in a round robin style format, with Italy facing Belarus on June 16, Turkey on June 17 and Slovakia on June 19.
The top three teams out each of the four groups advance to the 12-team elimination round, where the top five teams, not including Spain, will qualify for the 2018 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup. As the host nation for the FIBA World Cup, Spain automatically earns a berth, meaning six total teams from EuroBasket Women 2017 will advance.
"We cannot be more excited for this amazing opportunity for Elisa to represent her country with the senior national team," said head coach Jen Hoover. "She has an incredible work ethic, desire and drive on and off the court to succeed, and she is being rewarded for it. We are proud of her and are here to support her at Wake Forest as she pursues her dream of playing for her country."
Penna's involvement with the national team comes on the heels of a sophomore season at Wake Forest where the 6'3" forward led the Demon Deacons in scoring, averaging 13.4 points per game. The rising junior led the team with 24 games in double figures, recorded double-doubles in consecutive games and scored a career high 23 points in a road win over North Carolina a season ago.
