Two bronze medals in two years with the Italian Under-20 national team, and now Caterina Piatti is ready to leave. The University of Florida awaits her — the school that won the latest edition of the men’s March Madness, while on the women’s side the goal is to make it back to the tournament.
The Italian center, born in 2006, shared with us her journey that started from the province of Reggio Emilia and led her to one of the oldest and most important universities in America.
Born in Scandiano, developed as a player in Costa Masnaga, and this year she debuted with San Martino di Lupari in Serie A. What sparked your passion for basketball and how has your journey been so far?
I grew up in a family where basketball was always a constant presence, almost natural. My dad, Gigi, played in Serie B and today is a coach, while my mom Ester was a player for the Hungarian national team and coached for many years. For me and my siblings, sports were always an integral part of everyday life, and from a very young age I breathed the atmosphere of gyms, away games, locker rooms, and matches. In middle school, I played both basketball and volleyball with decent results in both sports; in fact, I initially preferred volleyball. But then came the first tryouts for the provincial and subsequently regional teams — that’s when I started to feel more emotionally involved and motivated every time I stepped on the court. Also, my dad gave me a decisive little push with his usual humor: either I picked basketball, or I would go live in the garden! So I chose basketball.
You have become a regular in the national youth teams, winning two bronze medals with the U20 team. Starting from last summer, how did it go?
Last summer was really special and unforgettable for me. I had the honor to participate in the Under-20 European Championship with girls born in 2004, so two years older than me. Being part of that group was a privilege because I knew how competitive and high-level it was. The entire experience was incredibly formative on every level: I learned a lot both technically and personally, and I felt emotions that are hard to describe. The tournament ended with a beautiful bronze medal, which was the crowning achievement of a tough but enthusiastic and passionate journey. For me, that European Championship was very intense, due to the value of the group, the level of competition, and the trust the coaching staff placed in me. I felt welcomed, valued, and part of something big.
In the last two editions of the U20 Euro, Italy won two bronze medals. Caterina Piatti was on the roster for both
Tell us a bit about this recently concluded tournament: many didn’t expect a medal after the group stage, but instead…
The tournament started rocky, as the team didn’t show the brilliance we saw in the friendlies. So the group phase was underwhelming. But we knew we would grow game by game, continuing to work and believe in ourselves. That determination of girls wearing the azzurra jersey is where the medal came from.
How hard was it to be ready when you had limited playing time?
Before a match, you never know how much you will play or even if you will enter the game. I think I approached every moment on the court with commitment and determination.
What’s behind the ‘dub’ you created with Carlotta Zanardi and Francesca Baldassarre to celebrate?
Carlotta and I shared a room, and one evening, while discussing the name for a new game, we jokingly decided to call it ‘dub’ and from there the situation escalated; we started doing it almost all the time.
You come from a generation of players very interested in the U.S. Eleonora Villa told us you have talked about the NCAA, and in the current U20 squad there are four of you heading to this adventure. How important is it to experience this path together?
The decision to move to the United States to study and play basketball is definitely a deeply personal choice because it involves sacrifices, changes, and many unknowns. That said, having people to share this journey with — even just to compare experiences — is very important. Being able to talk about the same anxieties, questions, but also opportunities and excitements makes you feel less alone and more understood. Especially with Eleonora Villa, I have a very close relationship: we’ve been friends for years, keep in touch often, and update each other on everything. Her enthusiasm, determination, and having already made some decisions before me gave me courage. But I believe every girl who decides to leave Italy to take this path is driven by a very strong, personal, and deep motivation.
How did the idea of going to the U.S. come about and for how long have you been following NCAA basketball?
The idea of studying and playing in the U.S. didn’t come by chance. It started at the end of middle school when I decided to move to Costa Masnaga to follow a more structured sports path. From that moment, I started paying more attention to the NCAA world and dreamed of one day being part of such an organized and fascinating system. In the last three years, with my family’s support, we contacted more than twenty Division I universities, talking with coaches, academic staff, and recruiting staff. Initially, I only had a general idea of how American college basketball works, but over time I learned and understood more about it until I finally felt ready to face it.
Besides Florida, Penn State and California were also very interested in you. What made you decide on the Gators?
The recruiting process was long, intense, and for some ways even emotional. With the interested universities, we started with introductory video calls where we talked about my goals, their team philosophy, and their academic offer. Over time, the involvement grew: coaches, technical staff, and university tutors joined the calls. In September 2024, coaches from the three schools I had built the strongest relationship with came to Italy to meet me and my family. After my official visits, I had to make a very difficult decision because I had formed a great bond with wonderful people in multiple places. In the end, I chose Florida because there I felt a special connection, authenticity in relationships, and great enthusiasm from the staff. Florida earned my trust and made me feel at home right away.
Tell us about your visits: what did the universities organize and how are they structured?
The trip to the U.S. to visit the colleges was truly important also from an emotional perspective. The first stop was Florida where I stayed three days: I toured the campus, saw the student-athlete facilities, which are truly impressive, attended a practice and an official game. The staff made me feel welcomed from the first minute and even arranged a meeting with an Italian girl on the swim team — it was great to have a direct comparison with someone who embarked on this journey to talk about many aspects of university life. Then I moved to Penn State, and there too I was impressed: the staff was fantastic and the players very approachable. I did not expect to find such a positive environment after my experience in Florida, but it happened. This made my final choice even harder. Overall, the visit organization was impeccable, and I felt a great deal of attention toward me.
What degree program did you choose?
I enrolled in Psychology, which has always fascinated me and ideally continues my studies from the Human Sciences high school.
How do the coaches organize this time of year when you have yet to meet your teammates?
I got to know some players during my campus visit and we still keep in touch. At first, there was some shyness, which is natural, but then a positive and welcoming atmosphere was created quickly. I’ve stayed in contact particularly with a Spanish player who will be a sophomore this year, and there will also be a Swiss, an Australian, and a Canadian on the team. This mix of cultures is one of the things I find most fascinating about the American experience. The coaching staff is super present and attentive: we talk often, almost every day, and they even came to watch me at the European Championship in Portugal, which impressed me a lot considering their commitment to the team’s training camp. The roster is young but very promising; it’s a long-term project that I strongly believe in.
Let’s talk about NIL. What role do you think it will have in the recruiting process and do you think NCAA will be an increasingly popular path for Italian and European players?
I believe that having access to NIL is an additional incentive for those who choose to move to the U.S. Of course, it shouldn’t be the main motivation, according to my priorities, but it is a tangible resource that can help support the academic and sports journey. In Italy, this opportunity doesn’t exist or is very limited. For this reason, I think more European, especially Italian, players will see the NCAA system as a great opportunity to grow athletically and to build a future in a holistic way.
You play center. What do you think the American experience can give you in terms of game development?
I consider myself a very mobile big who can comfortably cover both the 4 and 5 spots. I know my growth path is still long. I see myself as a developing player with significant room for improvement in technical, physical, and mental areas. I think the American environment, with such prepared staff and high-level facilities, can help me develop these areas fully. In general, I will work a lot on my post and face-up game. I know it will be tough, but I’m ready to work hard with humility and determination. A new chapter of my life is about to start, full of expectations and the desire to challenge myself.
Women’s basketball in America is booming and highly followed. How does that make you feel?
In the last two years, women’s basketball in the U.S. has made a huge leap in visibility, interest, and public engagement. Entering that world today is a unique opportunity, especially for those, like me, coming from contexts where all this is still far away. It will be all new, stimulating, and at times overwhelming, but I feel ready and motivated to live it to the fullest.
Let’s say it’s August 2026, one year from now, and we talk again for an interview. Would you be happy if you had achieved what?
I hope that in a year I can say I have successfully adapted to my new academic and sports environment. I want to look back and feel that I made the right choice, that I built a balance and a new ‘home’ far away from home. If then the call-up to the Under-20 national team also came, it would mean my path is going in the right direction, and I would be really proud.
