Most college basketball players will spend the fall knee-deep in preparation for the 2018-19 season. Vanderbilt’s Mariella Fasoula will be doing something else on the side: competing for a world championship.
Fasoula, a redshirt junior forward with the Commodores, is currently in her native Greece training to participate with the Greek national team in the 2018 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, held September 22-30 in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.
Last summer, Fasoula competed with the Greek Senior Women’s National Team in the FIBA 2017 EuroBasket in Prague, Czech Republic. But more is on the line this time for the 6-5 forward and her Greek teammates.
“Last year was a European championship. This time, it’s a world championship featuring teams from all over the world,” Fasoula said. “You get to see Team USA, Canada, Japan, teams with players I’ve looked up to while growing up. It’s a huge opportunity to participate in that.”
This will be Fasoula’s eighth time competing for the Greek Women’s National Team. In 2018-19, Fasoula expects to be an important player for Vanderbilt, as well. She sat out last season after playing two years at Boston College, where she led the Golden Eagles in scoring (16) and rebounding (7.5) as a sophomore in 2016-17. That year she shot just under 50 percent (49.6) from the floor and averaged 1.1 blocks per game after earning ACC All-Freshman team honors with 13.5 points per game and 5.4 rebounds per game in her first season.
Fasoula’s national team commitment kept her abroad for most of August, and she will be gone for the start of Vanderbilt’s preseason practice this month. But head coach Stephanie White has worked with Fasoula to develop a plan of attack while she is away from Nashville. Fasoula met with her Vanderbilt professors to help balance her academic workload alongside scheduled exercises developed by White and strength coach Josh Jones.
White said Fasoula has a special opportunity in front of her.
“There’s no substitute for the experience Fas is going to get playing against professionals,” White said. “It’s an amazing opportunity. The biggest challenge for her is to continue to grow every day and work on the things we’d be working on here. She can continue to work on her mindset and help herself gain more on-court experience with the national team.”
“I’ll take this opportunity seriously and work hard,” added Fasoula. “International competition is more about the fundamentals and playing smart basketball. Coming back, I just have to be ready to go and play against really good players in the SEC.”
When Fasoula returns to the states, she is expected to be a key returnee for Commodores, who should boast a new-look roster this season. Vanderbilt loses seniors Rachel Bell, Myka Dancy and Christa Reed, as well as sophomores Kayla Overbeck and Erin Whalen, who transferred during the offseason. But guard Chelsie Hall, an All-SEC Freshman pick last season, returns alongside sophomore and leading rebounder Autumn Newby. Plus, freshmen Jordyn Cambridge (guard) and Brinae Alexander (forward) should push for immediate playing time.
But Fasoula could be a difference-maker for the Dores in 2018-19. Now, with more international experience and potential world championship in her back pocket, the redshirt junior might evolve into one of the most dangerous players in the SEC.
“It’s a different kind of motivation to be able to play this season,” White said. “I expect Fas to be an anchor for our team, especially offensively. Fas has the ability to be the best post player in the SEC. She has the skillset to dominate. We’re going to give her the ball early and often and surround her with players who make her life easier.”
Zac Ellis is the Writer and Digital Media Editor for Vanderbilt Athletics.