![](https://maltadaily.mt/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/sophieweb.jpg)
Swieqi born Sophie Abela, a UCCS senior guard and basketball player, has had her career and her successes highlighted by international media.
The Maltese sports starlet was given a spotlight by news platform ‘The Scribe’, detailing how she found a passion for basketball at an early age.
Sophie finished her Maltese schooling when she was 16 years old, moving to Italy to play the sport she loved until she could continue studying.
She moved to La Junta, Colorado to play basketball for Otero Junior College when she turned 18.
She helped her team win their conference championship and then joined the Mountain Lions in 2021. Despite injuries in her senior season, she continued to push forward.
Not even a broken hand could stop her from chasing her dream, as she also highlighted how Malta needs to boost its sports sector. She never missed an assignment in 4 years, mirroring this consistency in class out in the court.
‘With graduation only a few months away, Abela is excited to begin this next chapter in her life. She plans to return to Europe, but like most students, Abela doesn’t know the exact path her life will take. However, if her time at UCCS is any indicator of how her life will go, I think we can all be sure that not only will she succeed, but so will those she dedicated herself to.’
#MaltaDaily