LANGLEY TOWNSHIP, British Columbia - The wait is finally over and Nevada women's basketball has officially stepped foot in Canadian territory.
Nevada's first day of its Summer Exhibition Tour in British Columbia, Canada began Thursday, with the Pack looking to build its team chemistry on and off the court in one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.
Players, coaches and staff were up before the sun, a 5 a.m. departure time to be exact, and made the smooth flight journey from the Biggest Little City to Oakland to Bellingham. After landing in Bellingham, the team loaded the bus to make the short, 50-mile, drive across the Canadian Border.
The months-long process of getting passports became worth the wait for the student-athletes and staff who have never stepped foot in the United States. Nevada's Global Sports & Events guide, Joel Janzen, called it "the greatest border crossing in the history of border crossings."
"It was surreal," junior
Lexie Givens said. "Having to go through customs for the first time, it was a very different experience."
The Pack was ready to begin their first summer foreign exhibition tour since 2019. Before unloading the luggage, the team got lunch at Canadian restaurant chain, Noodlebox. The student-athletes were then free to shop around The Shops at Morgan Crossing in Surrey.
Menchie's Frozen Yogurt was the first stop for a plethora of the student-athletes, who were eager to get a taste of Canadian ice cream. The players then quickly found some unique finds with their favorite brands, including Audrey Roden buying some rare Canadian finds at Lululemon. Most notably, Kennedy Lee added to her collection of Nutella spreads from different countries.
"I was so excited," Lee said. "When Ashley (Elliott) and Amanda (Levens) pointed them out, I immediately thought, 'There's another jar for my collection.'"
Following room and board check-in at the 157-acre campus at Trinity Western University, the team headed to Abbotsford for dinner at Trading Post Brewing Company. Dessert was served with a local flavor with a well-known Abbotsford restaurant named Afterthoughts.
Everyone was ready to call it a day following the 30-minute drive back to TWU and get recharged for its first full day in Canada tomorrow.
"Today was my first time out of the country and I am so excited," freshman
Dymonique Maxie said. "The money here is different colors and I find that really cool."
Nevada will start its string of exhibition games Friday, competing against another Pack-themed team in Thompson Rivers Aug. 4 at 7:30 p.m. No video stream or live stats will be available, but fans can stay updated by following Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @NevadaWBB.
SEASON TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Season tickets are now on sale. Season tickets for Nevada women's basketball start at just $65. Season tickets for youth (8th grade and under) start at just $25 while the Family Four Pack (two adults, two youth) are $37.50 per person. Students receive free admission with their Wolf Card.
Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
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Follow Nevada Women's Basketball on social media at @NevadaWBB (Twitter), @nevadawbb (Instagram), and on Facebook at @NevadaWBB
