Northwestern University Athletics

Cats in Spain

'Cats in Spain: A Look Back at Women's Basketball's Foreign Tour

11/7/2023 11:49:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Over the summer, Northwestern women's basketball took part of their offseason international, embarking to Spain on the program's first foreign tour since 2019. The 'Cats' full roster, along with coaches and support staff, visited three cities over the course of ten days, taking in the sights, learning the history and playing the local competition. After an overnight flight from Chicago, the Wildcats started their trip bright and early with breakfast in Madrid. From there, they took to the streets for a walking tour of Spain's capital city. The outing included a walkthrough of Palacio Real de Madrid, the royal palace, where the team learned about the history of the Spanish monarchy. The second day in Madrid took the team back in time to the ancient city of Toledo. They began the day at a sword-making workshop, then stopped at scenic overlooks and explored the city of three cultures. On day three, the Wildcats prepared for their first game abroad with an outdoor walkthrough in Parque del Retiro in downtown Madrid. Then, that evening, they hit the court to face off with Madrid Select. Backed by strong shooting performances from sophomore Caroline Lau and graduate transfer Maggie Pina, the 'Cats took a 101-68 victory out of game one.
Next up on Northwestern's journey was the port city of Valencia. For their first task in their second city, the Wildcats put their cooking skills to the test. They made the short journey to the Parc Natural de l'Albufera to try their hand at making traditional Valencian paella. Dinner was followed by a boat ride on the lagoon, where the team took in the sight's of the natural park.
Day two in Valencia brought the 'Cats to the water. On kayaks and paddle-boards, they navigated the Gulf of Valencia, then soaked up the sun during a day at the beach. Next up for the team was their final day in the city and their second game in Spain, this time against Nou Basquet Paterna. Once again, the 'Cats came out on top, defeating their competition 74-64. They were led by sophomore Alana Goodchild, who contributed five three-point makes to the team's point total. With business taken care of in Valencia, the Wildcats hit the road to the final stop on their journey: Barcelona. They were introduced to the city with a bike tour, which included stops at the Plaça del Rei, Arc de Triomf and Cascada Monumental. On day two in Barcelona, the 'Cats explored the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia - the largest unfinished Catholic church in the world - before preparing for their third and final game abroad. On a 21-point performance from junior Melannie Daley, the 'Cats completed the sweep in Spain with a victory over Catalonia Elite. With competition behind them, the team wrapped up the foreign tour with a day on the sea. A catamaran trip along the coast brought the trip to its scenic end, completing the ten-day tour. Northwestern women's basketball returns to Welsh-Ryan for the 2023-24 season beginning on Thursday, Nov. 9, with a matchup against local foe UIC. Their full schedule for the upcoming season can be viewed here.

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Players Mentioned

Melannie Daley

G
/ Women's Basketball

Alana Goodchild

F
/ Women's Basketball

Caroline Lau

G
/ Women's Basketball

Maggie Pina

G
/ Women's Basketball

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