If you walk around Miami University, you see a lot of things, but one that stands out is community. Students find their home and family within each other during their time on campus, forming friendships and relationships that last a lifetime. That sense of belonging extends to every corner of campus, including athletics and Miami University Women’s Basketball.
Student-athletes are no exception. The Miami University women’s basketball team is a family both on and off the court. From the athletes to the coaches, they take the time to get to know one another and have built a strong support system while being away from home—some of them an ocean away.
Senior Clara Gonzalez Planella and Junior Nuria Jurjo have traveled from Barcelona, Spain, to Oxford, Ohio, to play for Miami and be a part of this family. That connection began with head coach Glenn Box, MAC coach of the year.
Over the past summer, Box took time to travel abroad and meet the players’ families to better understand who they are and where they come from. He wants to know his athletes as people off the court, and that care translates throughout the team, creating an environment where everyone feels supported both on and off the court.
That foundation of trust became especially important when tragedy struck. In August, Clara’s father was diagnosed with colon cancer, which unfortunately continued to spread. Clara was able to fly home immediately and spend a few hours with her father before he passed.
At the same time, Nuria’s mother was battling brain cancer. Nuria returned home to spend time with her mom, cherishing moments together after years of being apart. Her mother passed away the Saturday after Nuria arrived.
Through these trials and heartbreak, both Nuria and Clara have expressed their gratitude for each other and their team. While they were in Spain, their teammates continued to send messages of love and support, a reminder that their Miami family was always with them. That support didn’t stop once they returned to Oxford, as Nuria and Clara have leaned on each other while navigating their shared loss.
Through Miami University women’s basketball, both Nuria and Clara honor their parents by playing with purpose and gratitude for everything they have and are able to do. They carry their parents’ memories with them every day, playing for them each time they step onto the court.
Much like Miami University women’s basketball team, the university is a place where students and faculty find a home and go out of their way to make sure others feel supported and included as part of a second family.
