ASU a home away from home for international women’s basketball athletes
For the ASU Women’s Basketball international athletes, college life was difficult to get used to. Being hundreds of miles away from home and starting their college education was a lot to take in all at once.
But ASU offered something they wanted, and they decided to take a leap of faith and make sacrifices to get to where they are.
Guard Taya Hanson, 19, of Kelowna, British Columbia, has always been close with her family. Being a six-hour flight away from them is not easy, but her teammates made her feel right at home.
“I made a family here, and I am really loving Arizona and this team, and that has helped the transition away from home,” Hanson, a sophomore majoring in marketing, said.
The team’s strong bond was a result of lots of time spent together, on and off the court.
“We have such a great team culture. We hang out with each other outside of basketball and we love each other's company,” Hanson said.
Taya Hanson
Guard Sara Bejedi,19, a sophomore from Finland, wanted something new. Arizona seemed like the perfect place to begin her collegiate journey.
“The weather and the scenery is just paradise on earth, it’s beautiful. It is the perfect opposite of Finland,” Bejedi said.
Moving to Arizona was a dream but it was also a challenge. The language barrier between her and her studies made it difficult for her to get used to the college lifestyle, but she had a great piece of advice.
“Ask for as much help as you can,” Bejedi said.
For guard/forward Iris Mbulito, 20, of Spain, the language difference was also a speed bump in the road.
“When I first came here my English wasn’t very good so it was really hard for me to understand what people were saying and it was difficult for me to express how I was feeling,” Mbulito said.
Now, starting her second year on the team, she has gotten past the language barriers and is looking forward to a successful season with her team.
“We just want to win and keep growing as a team. We want to have fun, win and play hard every time,” Mbulito said.
The three international players have all played for their respective national teams and are a force to be reckoned with. They have played in various International Basketball Federation (FIBA) championships, leaving their mark and scoring many points along the way.
The Pac-12 conference is where the athletes want to dominate and show their strength.
“Our goal as a team, we want to win the Pac-12 games,” Hanson said.
Come cheer on the Sun Devils when they play at home at Desert Financial Arena this season. Remember, students get free tickets. #IgnitetheInferno, Sun Devils!