Women's Basketball Will Travel to Peru for FISU America Games
Jul 01 | Women's Basketball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. — The Rutgers women's basketball team is set to participate in the fourth FISU America Games in Lima, Peru from July 18-28.
The Scarlet Knights will face international competition as the tournament welcomes university athletes from 18 countries across North, Central and South America as well as the Caribbean, marking the largest country field in event history.
"This trip is about much more than the games we'll play in Peru," head coach Gary Redus said. "It's an opportunity to accelerate our growth as a team heading into the 2026-27 season. We'll have the chance to compete against quality international competition, build chemistry and continue establishing our identity and the standard we've been working toward so far this summer. Those experiences are invaluable this time of year, and they'll help prepare us for the upcoming season."
Over 300 student-athletes will represent the United States across 15 sports, making this the largest team UniUSA has ever sent to a FISU America Games. This year's UniUSA team includes student-athletes from more than 120 colleges and universities, reflecting the depth and diversity of collegiate athletics across the country. The roster features athletes from Power Four programs including Indiana, North Carolina, Purdue, Rutgers and Washington.
"We're excited to represent Rutgers and the United States, but we're also focused on using every practice, every game and every moment together to become the best team we can be," Redus added.
FISU America Games Schedule
(Updated Schedule as of 7/26 - 9:30 pm)
Wednesday, July 22
United States vs. Peru - W, 101-51
The journey starts with a W. Let's keep climbing. 📈#GoRU #fisuamerica #lima2026 pic.twitter.com/hgYulYPyDL
— Rutgers Women's Basketball (@RutgersWBB) July 22, 2026
After some travel delays that did not allow the Scarlet Knights to arrive in Peru until early Monday morning, the FISU America Game scheduled was adjusted as RU began the games taking on host Peru and dominating in a 101-51 victory.
"It felt great," said Gary Redus of his first victory with the Knights. "All the things we've been working on, now we're getting the chance to do it in live action."
Rutgers opened racing out to a 33-11 lead and kept up the pace with a 62-24 advantage at the break. While the Scarlet Knights were limited to 16 points in the third, RU still held a commanding edge at 78-39.
"I expected us to come out and play hard, compete, dominate the glass, push in transition, play together, get each other open shots, and really play with a sense of just joy," Redus said of his expectations going into the contest.
"We kind of started playing the scoreboard," Redus said of the third quarter. "We stopped playing with the intensity that we need to sustain, but they knew that and knew that without me even having to say it."
Of note, Redus pointed out the play of Precious Gem Wheeler's aggressiveness, Jaylah Lampley's job on the boards and second chance opportunities, Zennia Thomas' ability to get three and-1's in a row and that everyone out on the court from Mya Pauldo, Mia Pauldo and Chikae Desdunes were hitting shots.
Rutgers makes the quick turnaround and will face Argentina on Thursday at noon (ET). The stream will be streamed live on YouTube. Argentina defeated Peru, 62-45, on Tuesday and held on for a 59-58 victory over Chile prior to the start of RU's game on Wednesday.
Thursday, July 23
United States vs. Argentina - W, 95-45
Offense Locked In. Defense Locked Down. 🔒 #GoRU #fisuamerica #lima2026 pic.twitter.com/9lHGmRpu4S
— Rutgers Women's Basketball (@RutgersWBB) July 23, 2026
Rutgers women's basketball was right back to the hardwood on Thursday as the defense and the bench shone in a 95-45 victory of Argentina.
The Scarlet Knights established a 23-10 advantage after first-quarter action and continued to clamp down on the Argentina offense, outscoring the opposition 26-10 in the second quarter, en route to a 49-20 halftime lead. In the second half, Argentina was limited to 15 third-quarter points and 10 fourth-quarter points.
"I thought we had a much better defensive effort," said Gary Redus of the win. "I think anytime you get Tara (Daye) back, I think you're going to have a better defensive effort. It's because of the way she plays, how hard she plays, how she gets her hands on loose balls and steals, blocks, deflections - she does all of that."
In addition to the return of Daye, Kennedy Brandt, Hope Masonius, Chikae Desdunes and Precious Gem Wheeler were able to give RU a lift.
"It's Jersey grit, it's Jersey grind, it's Jersey toughness," said Redus of the back-to-back contests. "That's what this team in built on."
The Scarlet Knights will enjoy an off day on Friday and will be back in action on Saturday and Sunday with an updated schedule. On Saturday, RU will meet Ecuador at 9 a.m. (ET) and Sunday's game with Chile will tip off at 7 p.m. (ET). Chile defeated Ecuador, 52-43, back on Tuesday and was narrowly edged by Argentina, 59-58, on Wednesday. Ecuador played in Thursday's first game, dropping a 53-48 decision to host Peru.
Saturday, July 25
United States vs. Ecuador - W, 95-32
Team USA improved to 3-0 as Rutgers limited Ecuador to single digits in all but the third quarter in its 95-32 victory.
The early start opened with RU on a 16-1 run, limiting Ecuador to its first field goal on a three-pointer with 4:46 on the clock. Ecuador only notched three field goals total as the Scarlet Knights were in control, 27-8, at the end of one quarter.
The second quarter had Rutgers open on a 16-4 run and outscoring Ecuador, 18-5, on its way to a 45-13 halftime lead.
Ecuador reached double digits in the third with 11 points, but heading into the final quarter, RU extended its dominance, 72-24.
"I thought the early start affected us a little bit, but that we really picked it up in the second half," said Gary Redus. "We don't want to play the scoreboard. We always want to focus on what it is that we can control."
"I think that we have a fast and scrappy team, he noted, "but we have to show that and we have to show it all the time. I think anytime you have a Tara (Daye), Mya (Pauldo), Mia (Pauldo) out on the court with everyone else with Jaylah (Lampley), with Previous (Gem Wheeler), with Chikae (Desdunes), everyone can do it. But everybody has to make sure they are putting forth the effort to do it every single time."
The Scarlet Knights are back in action against Chile in its final pool play game on Sunday at 7 p.m. (ET). Chile defeated Peru, 72-50, following the RU-Ecuador contest. Earlier in the week they fell short in a comeback against Argentina, 59-58, and downed Ecuador, 52-43.
Sunday, July 26
7:00 p.m. (ET) - United States vs. Chile - W, 70-44
Team USA is heading to Monday's gold medal match after closing out pool play at 4-0 with a 70-44 victory over Chile.
The Scarlet Knights went out to a 24-6 lead after the first quarter and outscored Chile, 26-12, in the second quarter on their way to a 50-18 halftime advantage.
While RU stayed in front, third and fourth quarter scoring was more evenly balanced with Chile outscoring the Scarlet Knights. Rutgers entered the final frame up 61-33, but it was Chile outscoring RU 15-11 out of the break. The fourth quarter had Chile holding a slight 11-9 edge.
"I thought the first half was pretty good," said Gary Redus. "The second half, I thought we lost focus and didn't stay together. That's why you want to play in these events, to be able to figure out how you'll react in certain situations and figure out what it takes to be successful as a team."
"We came here to win a gold medal," he said, looking towards Monday's gold medal game. "But I think even more than winning a gold medal, we came here to grow as a team, to build as a team, to get through things. I think for me is seeing how we'll respond in the gold medal game. It's really a good opportunity for our program, but I'm really excited to see how we'll respond."
Rutgers will take on Argentina in the gold medal match on Monday. Game time has been moved to a 7:30 p.m. (ET) tipoff. Argentina finished pool play at 3-1 with its lone loss against the USA. On Sunday, Argentina finished out pool play with a 62-37 win over Ecuador.
Monday, July 27
United States vs. Argentina - 7:30 p.m. (ET) - Results | Video
United States vs. Argentina - W, 80-38
Rutgers women's basketball led Team USA to gold on Monday night at the FISU America Games at the Villa El Salvador Complex, defeating Argentina, 80-38.
Rutgers finished a perfect 5-0 at the games, averaging 88.2 points per game and winning by an average of 46.2 points per game.
"We're just getting started," said head coach Gary Redus following the victory. "This is the first step in what we hope are many wins, many celebrations and many championships. We're really excited. We aren't a finished product by any means, but we set out a goal this summer, and that goal was to come to this event and win."
The Scarlet Knights led from start to finish, not allowing Argentina a field goal in the first quarter. After establishing a 23-13 lead after the first 10 minutes, Argentina was only able to break thru for a field goal three minutes into the second half on a 3-pointer.
At the half, it was Rutgers guiding Team USA to a 38-18 advantage and the Scarlet Knights only continued to build up their margin heading into the final frame up, 61-30.
Mya Pauldo was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. Against Argentina in the gold medal game, the sophomore guard from Paterson, New Jersey, contributed 16 points. Over RU's five games, Pauldo dropped in 11 shots from downtown and averaged 12.2 points per game.
From the grind to the gold ➡️ Time to celebrate🥇🎊#GoRU #fisuamerica #lima2026 pic.twitter.com/ijVJz9AX6L
— Rutgers Women's Basketball (@RutgersWBB) July 28, 2026
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