The Italian women’s national basketball team arrived in Terni to prepare for its opening FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2027 qualifier against Slovenia, bringing training sessions and community events to the PalaTerni arena.
Approximately 150 young fans filled the stands for Monday’s opening training session, umbriasocial.it reported. Following the workout, the municipal sports department donated 20 basketballs to local youth programs.
Monday marked the start of the team’s build-up for the upcoming European qualifiers. The venue hosted an open training block where supporters watched the roster take to the parquet floor.
Outside the arena, Special Olympics Italia hosted a Play Together, Win Together challenge. Participants attempted free throws as part of a symbolic campaign building toward the 2027 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Santiago, Chile.
Inside the press room, officials gathered for a roundtable discussion titled Tutte a Canestro: Custodire la passione, costruire il futuro
to examine youth development and the growth of the women’s game.
Federazione Italiana Pallacanestro secretary general Maurizio Bertea opened the proceedings. The panel featured remote remarks from Luca Banchi, commissario tecnico della Nazionale maschile e responsabile del settore tecnico del Centro Tecnico Federale, Roberta Regis, responsabile tecnico del minibasket, Gianni Antonelli, presidente del Comitato regionale FIP Umbria, and Andrea Capobianco, commissario tecnico della Nazionale femminile.
Coach Capobianco manages a squad missing several roster pieces for the opening window. Martina Kacerik left the training camp due to physical issues, while Cecilia Zandalasini and Matilde Villa did not report to the team.
In response to the absences, the coaching staff called up Beatrice Caloro and Emma Giacchetti. Zandalasini’s presence in the national team remains subject to physical evaluation.
Lorela Cubaj, a Terni native developed through the Pink Basket youth system, joined the national selection and received municipal recognition during the team’s stay.
Italy faces Slovenia on Wednesday, November 11, at 20:00 local time at the PalaTerni. The fixture marks the opening contest of the European qualification cycle.
Television coverage for the match is scheduled to air live on Sky Sport, according to umbriaon.it reporting.
