As junior year approaches for students at the Claremont Colleges, discussions about top study abroad destinations begin for many. Whether a semester in the mountains of Ecuador or in the bustling metropolis of Taipei, excitement arises in anticipation of a three-month break from the City of Trees and PhDs.
For those on the Pomona-Pitzer (P-P) women’s basketball team, study abroad is not always an option. As their practices begin in late September and playoffs take place the following March, most players choose to stay on campus year-round.
However, this year, the Sagehens are on a mission to have their own adventure abroad. They are coordinating a 10-day foreign tour to Spain just a few days after commencement in May, which combines the best of travel and basketball.
“Study away ends up being really challenging for basketball players, because our sport stretches two semesters, so it’s really hard to feel like you can fully participate in women’s basketball,” head coach Alaina Woo said. “What’s really great about the foreign tour is that we have an opportunity as a program to go see another part of the world.”
The planned international tour is the first in program history, so when Woo pitched the idea to the current graduating class, Katie Drais PO ’26 and her fellow seniors started working to make that dream a reality. They initially created presentations for possible destinations and eventually decided on a trip to Spain.
“Coach Woo went to the senior class about early choices [of destinations] and then decided to form a committee that is specifically focused on fundraising,” Drais said.
The trip is not fully paid for, so donations are key to reducing out-of-pocket costs for all 17 players on the team.
Three players volunteered to be on the committee responsible for fundraising — Shea Joko PZ ’28, Charlotte Patel PO ’28 and Abigail Homan PO ’27 — each with specific duties. Although the annual Giving Day supported the team financially in previous seasons, Patel says the team is taking it a step further this year.
“Fundraising as a team is unprecedented for women’s basketball outside of Giving Day,” Patel said. “Abby [Abigail], Shea and I meet a lot. We’ve got a very active group chat and taken on different roles, like heading more of the concession, bake sale-type of organizing … Abby’s taking on some more of our tournament-style events, like three-on-three basketball and pickleball, and Shea’s really heading our clinics that we’re hosting.”
The team has set up a table at a few sports games so far, including Sixth Street football and men’s water polo. Through the two sell-out bake sales and the sports events, the Sagehens have already raised a total of $2,500 just two months into the school year.
In addition to on-campus outreach, the team also aims to cultivate connections with local businesses and families.
“I think some of my favorite [fundraisers] are reaching out to the community through just cold emailing, and then some Facebook mom sites to get people to come to our trainings that we’re hosting on Thursdays and weekends,” Patel said. “And it’s super fun to engage with youth in the community to do something we love — basketball — and also help fundraise for this greater trip.”
The Sagehens’ dedication to supporting the community and developing youth basketball is a mission they plan to continue in Spain. During the trip, their itinerary is more than just travel. The team has three games scheduled in Valencia, Madrid and Barcelona on top of a basketball clinic hosted by the players for local youth.
“It just makes me so excited thinking about it,” Drais said. “It would be so, so special. I’m still trying to frame it in hypothetical terms, because I’m so excited I can barely believe it’s happening.”
For underclassmen like Patel, who will step into leadership roles in upcoming seasons, the opportunity to create lasting memories with the entire team is especially meaningful.
“It’s the team that makes the sport, especially at the [Division III] level,” Patel said. “You’re all choosing to be here, and we’re not getting paid to be here, so what makes it enjoyable is making those connections and creating a lasting memory. Right after our seniors graduate, we go on this trip together, and it’s kind of like the icing on the cake.”
Sagehen basketball has nearly a month until its first exhibition game, followed by another month of preparation for its first SCIAC action. However, they aren’t letting their foot off the pedal with events planned the whole school year, featuring pickleball tournaments and sweet treats.
Despite a long journey ahead, Drais expressed her gratitude for the support the team has received from the community thus far, both in the form of donations and through newly established relationships.
“Thank you already for paying attention to women’s basketball, especially at the DIII level,” Drais said. “It’s so exciting that there are people who are so interested in our journey. I am lucky, and I know everybody else is, to be a part of a community like that. … And any donation is much appreciated, but just spreading the word [that] we’re doing as much as we can … to get there as a unit, and just any recognition about what we’re working on goes a long way.”
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