2023 Women's Basketball Italian Tour
Badgers travel to Rome, Florence, and Venice
8/6/2023
The Wisconsin women's basketball team heads to Italy from Aug. 6-15, competing and sightseeing in Rome, Florence, and Venice with daily excursions to many other areas in Italy. The team will play three games, one in each city.
The Badgers will be traveling all 14 players, with freshman Ana Guillen making the journey from Spain.
This foreign tour will mark the team's first time venturing outside of North America since 2007 when they toured Australia and New Zealand.
The team is looking forward to experiencing Italian Culture through history and cuisine, a high-level of competition, and team bonding.
Day 1 - Travel
The Badgers departed Madison at 10:30 a.m. to embark on their 2023 Italian Tour.
The Badger Bus took them to O'Hare International, where they hopped on a nine-hour flight to Rome, Italy. Along with the team was a group of support staff, administrators, families, friends, and fans.
Day 2 - Rome
The team began the second day by flying into Rome. Their new teammate, Ana Guillen, traveled from Spain to partake on the foreign tour.
Directly from the airport, the Badgers took a bus into the City Center. Their first stop was the Spanish Steps. These steps are the longest and widest in Europe. They have become a special landmark as the steps host events and Italian traditions through the year.
From the Spanish Steps, the team continued on foot to the Trevi Fountain. The tour guide, Beatrice, explained the meaning behind tossing a coin into the fountain. Around the area were many vendors, shops, and restaurants. The group spent time exploring and grabbing their first Italian meal.
Following a brief lunch by the fountain, the Badgers continued their Roman tour by stopping at the Colosseum. The guide took everyone through and explained all the uses and significance of the landmark throughout the centuries.
A period of relaxation was next on the agenda, followed by the entire travel party gathering for a welcome dinner at Trattoria della Barchetta. They chatted about game plans and the trip over fantastic six-course meal, featuring the restaurant’s famous Cacio e Pepe.
Day 3 - The Vatican / Game One
The day started with a trip to another country, the Vatican. The home of the Catholic Church is a city-state in the heart of Rome. While in Vatican City, the team visited the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. No photographs were allowed in the chapel itself but were encouraged in other areas of the Vatican.
The walls and ceilings of the buildings are adorned with artwork from many famous artists, with the Sistine Chapel painted by Michelangelo.
The team was then given free time to go explore around the hotel. The streets were lined with many shops, restaurants, and gelato places.
Game one took place at the Centro Sportivo Tellene on the outskirts of Rome at 7:00 p.m. The Badgers battled against Kuntic Academy in a College Basketball Tour matchup. The returners were getting their momentum back from last season while the freshman shined in their first showing.
Brooke Schramek led the team in points with 15, while Freshman D’Yanis Jimenez earned 11 for the team.
The team and and staff would like to thank Kuntic Academy, College Basketball Tour, and Centro Sportivo Tellene for hosting game one of our three-game tour.
A look back at some highlights from Game 1 in Italy?????? pic.twitter.com/04PeoW0Vds
— Wisconsin Women’s Basketball (@BadgerWBB) August 9, 2023
Day 4 - Rome/Florence
Day four started with a walking tour around Rome. The Badgers stopped at Piazza Navona and the Pantheon en route to the train station. The team stopped here for free time where they experienced more Italian food and a familiar place, McDonald’s.
The train station was filled with many shops, just like a shopping mall in the United States. The team walked around, ate lunch, and then embarked on a two-hour train trip to Florence.
Once everyone arrived in Florence, they met two local guides to show the city off. The groups made stops at the Duomo Complex, Ponte Vecchio, Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, and many more monuments.
The evening was open for the Badgers to explore on their own. Many went shopping while others crossed the Arno River to experience Florentine cuisine.
Day 5 - Siena/San Gimignano/Florence
The team woke up bright and early to load a bus to Siena. Siena is a region in Tuscany known for its Medieval architecture and ‘labyrinth-like’ layout. The town also has the most famous horse race in Italy, Palio de Siena.
While in Siena, the team wandered the town square and the Duomo, or cathedral in English.
The Badgers got back onto the bus to hop over to San Gimignano. This town is also from the Medieval times and is upon a Tuscan hill. This area of Tuscany is known to have the best gelato in the World- the Badgers can attest to that.
With the city being a smaller size than the rest they have explored, the Badgers only spent a brief time venturing through the town center and shops while looking over the gorgeous views.
Once everyone was back from the day trips, the evening was open for exploring once again. Florence is a large city with lots to do, day or night. A popular place many visited was the city’s original coffee place, Cafe Gilli, the spot where Howard Schultz came up with the idea for Starbucks.
Day 6 - Florence/Game Two
The Badgers were able to take Florence at their own pace today. Many went around to explore the many open-air markets, while others relaxed before game two. At these markets, there are many vendors, with goods arranged from leather to produce to olive oil.
Game two was the premier event of the day. The team played Pala Cosmelli Unione SporPva Livorno Basket at Pala Cosmelli in Livorno, Tuscany.
Ronnie Porter had 20 points on the night and secured eight rebounds. Brooke Schramek led the team once again with 25 points.
Once again, the team and staff would like to thank everyone that allowed this game to happen.
Game 2. On to Venice pic.twitter.com/tNVk15C3aY
— Wisconsin Women’s Basketball (@BadgerWBB) August 12, 2023
Day 7
The Badgers were up early to get going on their last leg of the Italian tour.The first stop of the day was Bologna. Bologna is very famous across Europe for their university. Food is also very prominent here, with the city’s most famous dish being Bolognese. In the city center, there is a market with many vendors. The Badgers branched off and ate lunch here before going to Venice.
The team hopped back onto the bus and traveled to Venice. A ferry was waiting to take the Badgers to the islands. Venice is composed of many small islands connected by canals.
The team checked into their hotel and had the night to explore what the new destination had to offer.
Day 8 - Burano/Murano/Game Three
The team had a late-morning start to prepare them for game three. The ferry that took everyone to the island yesterday picked the group up to head to Burano.
Burano is a famous fishing village with many colored buildings. The tour guide, Sylvia, explained the buildings are colored for the fisherman to find their way home after a long day. Photos do not do the small island justice.
After the first stop, the Badgers sailed to Murano, an island famous for glass blowing. All the glass factories were moved to Murano in the 16th century as the locals were scared of fires in Venice’s city center. The group went to a glass factory to watch a demonstration of how the glass is blown. It takes many years to develop the glass-blowing trade, with the popularity of the trade growing less and less.
The last game of the tour took place on Murano at 6:00 p.m. against the College Basketball Tour Elite Team. The Badgers were strong and communicative on the court leading to major successes. Brook Schramek was three for three in leading the team in points, netting 20. Lily Krahn was right behind with 16. Freshman, Imbie Jones, collected nine rebounds.
The team and staff cannot thank College Basketball Tour enough for all the support and guidance throughout the foreign tour. The experiences and memories will last longer than a lifetime.
Third and final game of the Italian tour?? pic.twitter.com/Thqn1CfeWe
— Wisconsin Women’s Basketball (@BadgerWBB) August 14, 2023
Day 9 - Venice
The Badgers were up early for their last full day in Italy. Two guides met the group on the main island of San Marco to bring the team on a walking tour. Venice is composed of hundreds of islands with over 400 bridges. The main stop of the tour was St. Mark’s Basilica. This church is the former political and religious center of Venice. In modern days, it is the main attraction for tourists. The afternoon was open for the Badgers to take in their last sights of Venice and buy some memorabilia.
The group reconvened to take a gondola ride at sunset. A gondola is a traditional narrow boat native to Venice. The boat is steered by one person called a gondolier with the help of one long oar.
After the group enjoyed the sights from the water, it was time for the farewell dinner. The team chatted about their memories, the games, and their experiences.
The team and staff would like to again highlight how much this trip meant to the program. The Badgers would not have been able to make the 10-day trip without the support from all the staff, parents, and fans.
Until next time, Ciao Italia.