Errors in google translation. She is a “she”, not a “he”. And according to this, won’t be coming to US until mid-August, due to national team obligations. “Francesca Baldassarre flies to the United States: she will play in NCAA Division I 💥 Francesca Baldassarre is ready to start a new stage in her career. The young basketball player from Brindisa, class of 2008, will move to the United States to join the Virginia Tech Women’s team, a formation that is in NCAA Division I, the highest level in college basketball. His call assumes a particular value for the Apulian basketball movement: it will in fact bring a piece of Brindisi and Apulia to American college basketball. Before leaving for the United States, scheduled for August 16th, Baldassarre will support the state exams for maturity. His summer will later be characterized by his commitments with the blue shirt: first the National Under 20 in Vilnius, then the Under 18 in Stockholm. A double convocation confirming the central role of the player also in the Italian youth sector. Baldassarre’s journey started in his own town, before moving to Campobasso at the age of 13. In Molise he found space as the protagonist, obtaining a scholarship for school merits and attracting the attention of Florence. In Tuscany, on loan, he won the Coppa Italia Under, the title of MVP of the competition and the Under 17 shield. At 15 years old she moved to La Spezia, where she played in A2 with Cestistica Spezzina. The call in Serie A1 came at 17 years old with Battipaglia, experience in which he also gained the recognition of the best youngster of the championship. In the 2025/26 season he played 19 games, registering 8.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 28.8 minutes of use. Numbers that tell a profile that is already used to compared to a senior level, despite the young age. Joining Virginia Tech is therefore a new step in a path built on results, continuity and growth. Good luck on your new adventure Francesca! ☘️🤍” ** Edited by Stork at 6/18/2026, 2:26:13 PM

And I do not speak Portuguese nor does she speak English. I am tired of taking Google Translate to bed with us

Brindisi's cuisine is simple with basic ingredients used, starting with flour or unrefined barley, which is less expensive than wheat. Vegetables, snails, and bluefish figure prominently in its cuisine. Among the recipes are "Pettole" (fried yeast dough, sweet or savory to taste stuffed maybe with cod or anchovy, with cauliflower or broccoli), "Patani tajedda rice and mussels" (rice, potatoes and mussels), soup, fish, mashed potatoes with fava beans, broad beans and mussels, and "Racana mussels".

Not a fan of what's in the pasta we have in the US.

I think I even lost weight eating pasta and pizza and arancini over there. It was all so good.

The NJ and NY alumni associations need to send care packages.

...I think we have it covered (now).

up. On her most recent team. ** Edited by Stork at 6/16/2026, 5:53:08 PM

We will not know anything until games played in America.

** Edited by mrknowitall at 6/17/2026, 9:18:58 PM ** Edited by mrknowitall at 6/17/2026, 9:21:33 PM ** Edited by mrknowitall at 6/17/2026, 9:24:09 PM

were all in the 0.38-0.39 range; Aisha Sheppard has 0.437 over her career

are still (were?) expecting another 4/5 to be added to the roster.