The first impressions of Zane Straudovska from her opening practices with Chipola College have been very positive.
Chipola College has established itself as one of the premier junior college women’s basketball programs in the United States. During the 2025–26 season, the Lady Indians reached the No. 1 ranking in the NJCAA Division I national poll, further confirming the program’s championship-level status. (Chipola College)
Now, the Latvian shooting star has joined the program and is preparing for her first season in American college basketball.
After watching Zane in her first practices, Chipola head coach Mitch Rolls praised her maturity and professionalism. Coach Rolls described Zane as very mature and very professional in her approach to the game.
Coming from a championship-level coach, that is a significant compliment and an encouraging first impression for the young Latvian player.
Stravdovska brings considerable international experience to Chipola. She has represented Latvia at the U16, U18 and U20 levels, competing against some of the strongest national programs in European youth basketball. (FIBA Basketball)
In the 2026 FIBA U20 Women’s EuroBasket, Zane played for Latvia and averaged 4.1 points and 2.6 rebounds, while shooting 33.3% from three-point range. (FIBA Basketball)
At the club level, she played for TTT Juniores, gaining valuable experience in Latvian and Baltic basketball. In the 2026 WBBL B Division Final Four, Straudovska scored 12 points in the final and was named to the tournament’s All-Star Five. In the semifinal, she scored 16 points, including four three-pointers. (SBBL)
She also played an important role for TTT Juniores during the Latvian season, showing her ability to stretch the floor and create offense from the perimeter.
Now, under the leadership of Coach Mitch Rolls, Zane has an opportunity to take another major step in her development.
Chipola offers a winning culture, high-level coaching and championship expectations. For Stravdovska, the 2026–27 season will be an important opportunity to translate her European and international experience into American college basketball.
We hope Zane will shine throughout the season and prove that her performances in Latvia and with the Latvian national teams were only the beginning of what she can accomplish.
With her shooting ability, international experience, maturity and professional approach, Zane Stravdovska is ready for her next challenge — and Chipola College may be the perfect place for her to take the next step.