HAMDEN, Conn. – Quinnipiac women's basketball sophomore Ella O'Donnell and incoming first-year Maria Kealy have been named to the U20 Irish National Team for the upcoming 2023 FIBA U20 Women's European Championship in Romania. The duo were announced as members of the squad by Team Ireland on June 6.
"There is nothing like watching a FIBA event in person. The national pride on display, the level of competition, all playing to bring home the world championship," Quinnipiac women's basketball Head Coach Tricia Fabbri said. "This year we are equally prideful as we have two Bobcats playing for the U20 Irish National Team."
"It's such an honor to represent my country on this stage," said O'Donnell. "I am always so appreciative of the experience and I can't wait for the journey ahead this summer."
"I am delighted to be selected for the Irish U20 women's national squad," Kealy continued. "I'm ecstatic for the challenge ahead."
The vice-captain of the U18 Ireland team that competed in the 2021 European Championships, O'Donnell has been suiting up for her national team since 2019. That year, she represented Team Ireland's U16 squad at the 2019 European Championships held in Bulgaria. Prior to that, she helped lead her squad to a BIPPS inter-regional cup representing the East Ireland region in 2018.
O'Donnell suited up for Team Ireland at the 2022 FIBA U20 Women's European Championship, where she averaged 7.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game in seven contests. This past season for Quinnipiac, O'Donnell averaged 4.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game en route to earning MAAC All-Rookie Team honors.
A member of the U18 Ireland team that competed in the 2021 European Championships, Kealy made her debut for her country's national team that year and has been a member of the team every year since.
Kealy returned in 2022 as a vice-captain to represent Team Ireland's U18 squad at the 2022 European Championships held in Bulgaria. In seven games at the FIBA-sanctioned event, she averaged 6.9 points, 7.4 assists, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.1 steals per game for Team Ireland. Kealy played an important role as Ireland finished 9th in the Women's European Basketball Championships in Bulgaria, where she played more minutes than any other player in the tournament, a total of 256.
The FIBA U20 Women's European Championship begins in Craiova, Romania on July 28th. Ireland will compete in the 'B' Division and have been drawn alongside Greece, hosts Romania, and Georgia in their group, opening against Greece on July 28th.
Ireland will take on Croatia in a friendly series at the start of July, before playing exhibition games against Switzerland and Austria in Romania in the days leading up to the competition.
"Experienced gained competing against some of the most talented players and teams in the world will not only translate to their own development but also impact us this upcoming season," Fabbri added. "Go Ella and Maria! We will be rooting for you in Hamden!"
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