University of Minnesota Athletics
Introducing: Palma Kaposi
9/22/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Transfer Palma Kaposi came to Minnesota from Pécs, Hungary. A member of the Hungarian national team since 2012, Kaposi has participated in European Championships as well as Hungarian national tournaments. She spent a year at the University of Pécs before signing to join the Gophers.
GopherSports: Had you been to the U.S. before coming to school here?
Palma Kaposi: Yes, I had been in the States last year. I came here to visit a friend, but it was just for a few days.
GS: How are you liking Minneapolis now that you've been here for a little while?
PK: I really like it. It's a very friendly city. The people are so nice, and I really like the team. The school is good, too.
GS: After practicing with the team for a few weeks, how do you feel like you fit into the team's system?
PK: I think I fit in with the team because I'm fast and the Gophers play in a very fast rhythm. I think I'm catching up to them. My teammates worked together in the summertime, and I think after two weeks I'm able to practice on the level they're practicing now. I'm excited about the season because we have a very good team.
GS: Is it a similar style of play to your teams in Hungary?
PK: We didn't play as fast as we play here, but we have a similar mentality and plays here.
GS: In your travels for international tournaments, what were some of the best places you got to play?
PK: I really liked playing in France because they have a lot of good teams and the competition is very good there. But the best was Moscow. There I played against Tina Charles. It was a bigger thing for me. We couldn't really go sightseeing because it was the wintertime, so it was pretty cold. But usually when we go to these international games we can go to look around in the city.
GS: Did you get to guard Tina Charles at all or talk to her at the game?
PK: We didn't really have a chance to talk. But we played against each other and I scored against her.
GS: What are you most looking forward to experiencing during your first season playing as a Gopher, and your first year in school here?
PK: I would like to be successful in my school activities. I would like to get A's in school and be a good student. Basketball-wise, I would like to be very useful for the team, where they can count on me and I can count on them. I would like to go as far as we can in the season and go to the NCAA Tournament.
GS: How would you like to contribute to the team?
PK: I can help with my experience from international basketball. I want to bring energy and aggressiveness to the court, along with speed and good defense.
GS: What are you studying in school?
PK: I would like to major in business/finance. I'm working with our academic advisor to make this happen. Right now I'm in CFANS, but I would like to transfer to Carlson to make this happen.
