UofL women’s basketball continues to be well represented at the FIBA 3×3 World Cup. This year, current senior Norika Konno will represent Japan and former UofL star and 4th-overall pick of the 2022 WNBA draft Emily Engstler will represent the USA.
Engstler, who only needed one year at Louisville to showcase her WNBA potential had a very good rookie season with the Fever. Emily played in 35 of 36 games, starting 6 games, and averaged 5.2ppg, 5.2rpg, 1.5apg, 1.1bpg, and 0.8spg in just over 18 minutes a game.
Konno, who played in 20 games for the Cards last year was a huge boost off the bench for Louisville. Konno has a lot of experience playing on the Japanese National team. Konno’s international experience has played a very pivotal role in her career at UofL thus far. She’s always calm under pressure and is able to analyze the game and make critical adjustments according to the flow of the game.
Both teams are in Pool C and are scheduled to go head to head October 7th at 4:45am.
Below is the official release from the University of Louisville:
Press Release from Louisville Athletics:
UofL WBB: Norika Konno and Emily Engstler to Play in FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup
Konno (Japan) and Engstler (USA) will compete in Romania from Oct. 5-9
Date: Oct. 3, 2022
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The University of Louisville women’s basketball team will be well represented at the upcoming FIBA3×3 U23 World Cup as a current and former student-athlete will be suiting up for their countries national team.
Senior Norika Konno and recent graduate Emily Engstler are heading to Romania to compete in the recent leg of the U23 World Cup. Konno will be representing Japan and Engstler will be representing the United States as play begins in Bucharest on Oct. 5.
Konno competed with Team Japan this past summer at the 3×3 Asia Cup. She led Japan to a 2-0 record in pool play and advanced to the semifinals before falling to the eventual champions, China. In the summer of 2021, Konno participated in the Japanese National Team Training Camp in Tokyo in preparation for the 2020 Olympic Games.
Engstler most recently played for the United States 3×3 series team this past September as they competed in Montreal. She is coming off her first professional season with the Indiana Fever in the WNBA and is playing internationally with Flammes Basket Ardennes in France. In the summer of 2021, Engstler played alongside Hailey Van Lith for Team USA at theFIBA 3×3 U23 Nations League in Voiron, France.
Both the United States and Japan are in Pool C for the World Cup and the top two teams will advance to bracket play. Konno and Engstler will square off against each other on Oct. 7 at 4:45 a.m. ET. The full schedules for Team Japan and Team USA are listed below.
Team Japan
Oct. 5 vs. Uzbekistan 4:40 a.m. ET
Oct. 5 vs. Mongolia 6:30 a.m. ET
Oct. 7 vs. USA 4:45 a.m. ET
Oct. 7 vs. Dominican Republic 6:35 a.m. ET
Team USA
Oct. 5 vs. Dominican Republic 5:05 a.m. ET
Oct. 5 vs. Uzbekistan 6:55 a.m. ET
Oct. 7 vs. Japan 4:45 a.m. ET
Oct. 7 vs. Mongolia 8 a.m. ET
