Lilli Onnela’s Exciting Move to Italy: What It Means for Her
- Name : Lilli Onnela
- Born : 2006
- Women’s National Team Debut : 2024 (vs Slovenia)
Italy calling !!
Last week news started to come through that Finnish player Lilli Onnela (2006) had signed a deal with an Italian club Faenza Basket Project – so I fired few quick questions to Lilli to hear how this move had come about and what thoughts she has ahead of the new season.
How did the move come about?
Well, last season I heard that it would be possible to go and play abroad, so it really was an opportunity that I am now really looking forward to and am excited about it.
Have you talked to the Finns who play in Italy?
Yes, I have talked to the Finns who are playing there or have played there, and with the league over there – I know that it will be very different to what I am used to here in Finland with HBA.
What are the key points that you are looking for from the year in Italy?
For example, one area I am looking to improve in my game – is my shooting, that is one key aspect that I am looking to improve during the season in Italy.
Also just to be able to go and play abroad, it will surely be an experience that I can learn a lot from.
You are moving abroad for the first time – how many butterflies do you have in your stomach right now, when you think of the move?
Naturally I am excited and wondering what it will be like – but at the same time to main feeling really is excitement about being able to mov abroad to experience living in another country and playing basketball there.
Italian food ?? Thoughts??
Pizza, Pasta and so on … they are some of my favourite foods, so 🙂
Pizza – Pineapple??
This probably will be bit of a ‘hot take’ – but I kinda think that pineapple on a pizza is nice.
Thoughts from a coach
I also took it upon myself to ask a coach who knows Lilli – about what move might mean to Lilli and Finnish women’s basketball in general.
“It is a great opportunity for Lilli to go and measure her current level in a new environment and to challenge herself (as a player) on daily basis.”
“While seeing her current level, I hope it’ll also help her notice which areas she still needs to work on and also the new environment will hopefully feed her hunger to keep taking the next steps as a player.”
“As for Finnish basketball, it is obviously great to see that there is interest in our players on a bigger scale in the continental Europe”
“When a Finnish players get to go and play abroad, it of course also grows the amount of experience that the Finnish basketball family has as a whole and shows us what are the different leagues and teams – and what sort players they are best for.”
My own thoughts
Great news! That would be the short of it.
Where as I would of course love to see Lilli play her last year at HBA – before the likely move to play in NCAA in the USA – I can obviously understand that as a player – you grow from experiences and from being able to train under different coaches and different styles of play.
So this sounds like s perfect step for Lilli Onnela to take at this very moment.
Come and see Lilli next weekend!!
On the 12th of July – the Finnish Women’s Universiad team will play a warm-up game vs Germany at Urhea-halli in Helsinki … Lilli is on the training camp roster – so if you want to catch Lilli playing before she heads abroad… Saturday next week is your chance!!
