Players traveled from as far away as Japan and Australia to attend the camp, which was attended by representatives from over 25 different nations and territories. In addition to WNBA general managers, hundreds of college coaches from Power 4 institutions and mid-majors were there.
More than 30 players received college scholarships from last year’s camp in Phoenix, including Blanca Qui onez, a 6-foot-2 forward from Milagro, Ecuador, who will be attending defending champion UConn this autumn.
Allison Feaster, camp director and vice president of team operations and organizational growth for the Boston Celtics, stated, “If you look at Basketball Without Borders’ history, especially as it relates to girls, there are players who consistently go to college and get drafted, so that in and of itself is proof that this is important and meaningful.”
Amoore recalls that Washington Storm guard Nika Muhl of Croatia and her current Mystics teammate Aaliyah Edwards of Canada also took part in her international camp.
At the camp, the three became friends, and on Saturday afternoon, Muhl paid them a visit. Both she and Amoore are currently undergoing ACL rehabilitation.
With so many different nations represented, Amoore noted, there are language obstacles, but the teams can still communicate through the sport.
She mentioned that there was a lot of sign language demonstration. Many of these females are particularly amazing because, despite their poor English, they can communicate effectively enough to be translated or taken anyplace.
Feaster claimed to have witnessed the transformative power of these camps on players’ lives.
“You get a chance to see their levels to all of this when doors are opened,” she said. It sows the seed for their desire to keep going and achieve.
On Saturday night, every player at the camp will be present at the All-Star Game.
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