NYU’s men's and women's basketball teams recently wrapped up a memorable one-week visit to Shanghai, to participate in the 2024 Buick Campus Invitational, a doubleheader against Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU).
26 student athletes and another 15 staff arrived in Shanghai with an itinerary that balanced competitive play with cultural exchange. From August 11 to 18, the student athletes immersed themselves in Shanghai, participating in cultural activities, interacting with their peers at NYU Shanghai, building friendships with local basketball players through the universal language of sports, and embarking on a new chapter of people-to-people exchange between the two countries.
Check out what they did on their first trip to China.
The NYU Violets landed at Shanghai Pudong International Airport on August 11. NYU Shanghai Chancellor Tong Shijun, Vice Chancellor Jeffrey Lehman, and Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Dean of Students David Pe welcomed them at the New Bund campus. Pictured: Women’s Basketball Team coach Meg Barber (left) and student athletes Mary Kate Fahey (middle), and Belle Pellecchia hold the flag of the Campus Invitational.
The teams received welcome gifts from event sponsors such as t-shirts with the logo of Campus Invitational and sneakers. Later, the teams toured the New Bund campus.
The teams’ first full day in China was spent exploring Shanghai and all the city’s unique highlights. They learned about the city’s urban design at the Shanghai Urban Planning Museum, were suited up in tailor-made clothes at the Fabric Market, explored Yu Garden, and sampled local cuisine.
Their busy schedule and jetlag didn’t stop them from getting on the court to play some hoops. They played warm-up matches at NYU Shanghai’s gymnasium with two local professional teams, the Shanghai Stars Worldwide and the Shanghai Swordfish. Pictured: NYU Graduate student and WBCA Division III Player of the Year Natalie Bruns on the offensive against the Shanghai Star Worldwide.
On their third day, the NYU Violets met their peers at SJTU. They got to know each other, played fun icebreaker games together, and exchanged contacts. Pictured: Matthew Volkening and Jonathan Sigurdsson (far right) get to know students on the SJTU basketball teams.
The young athletes bonded further over a fun outing at Shanghai Disneyland in the afternoon.
A trip to Shanghai wouldn’t be complete without visiting Shanghai Tower, an iconic landmark. On their third day in the city, the NYU Violets checked it off their bucket list while touring the Lujiazui Financial District.
In the afternoon, while the NYU Men’s team played another friendly game with the ECNU Men’s Team at ECNU, the Women's Team played a scrimmage on NYU Shanghai’s campus. Pictured: Hampton Sanders battles for the ball in a game against ECNU.
Later that evening, the NYU Violets were invited by the NYU Trustee and Alumni Association to witness the unveiling of a new hub for the NYU alumni community. Pictured: NYU Board of Trustees representative Ding Jinsong (left) greeted NYU Senior Vice President for University Life Jason Pina who traveled to Shanghai with the teams.
On August 15, the NYU Violets spent their morning visiting the US Consulate General in Shanghai. They conversed with Consul General Scott Walker (front row, left) on the importance of promoting people-to-people exchange between the US and China. Photo courtesy of the US Consulate General Shanghai.
Following a walk admiring architecture in a historic Shanghai neighborhood, the NYU Violets paid a visit to the NBA’s China headquarters and met with NBA leadership and NYU alumni.
On August 16, after a morning at NYU Shanghai experiencing a variety of Chinese cultural activities, ranging from Tai Chi to dumpling making, the teams headed to SJTU for the much anticipated Campus Invitational. In the men's game, SJTU won with a 73-56 victory, with Zay Freeney leading the Violets with a game-high 23 points. Pictured: (from left to right) Hampton Sanders, Emmanuel Onuama, Zay Freeney, and Quinn Clark playing against SJTU.
The SJTU Women’s team narrowly defeated the NYU Violets with a 69-64 victory. Natalie Bruns led the Violets with a game-high 26 points. The games gave both teams an opportunity to not only showcase their talent and athleticism, but more importantly, to foster a spirit of sportsmanship and camaraderie with their Chinese peers. Pictured: NYU Women’s Basketball team player Maria Alvarado (right) shares a hug with an SJTU basketball player.
On the last day of their trip, NYU Violets rode a cruise on the Huangpu River and enjoyed Shanghai’s iconic skyline. Their trip to China was documented in a video by ESPN which played on a huge screen in Times Square during the first week of September.
For NYU Violets, their first trip to Shanghai was a transformative experience, as it not only enhanced their athletic skills but also enriched their understanding of global cultures. The friendships forged during this week is a true testament of how sports can bring people together and it will contribute to their growth as athletes and as global citizens.
Watch the recap video of their trip here.