Gianna Schmidt’s love of basketball is endless. It's a sport that she says has given her so much in life.

Schmidt stated there's no other sport, and she fell in love with the game of basketball at the Utica Parkway Center.

“Basketball was, like, the first sport that ever stuck with me," Schmidt said. "I just love it. To be back here and to, like, practice sometimes even with my new teams here, it's just, it's very emotional.”

It's a sport that always challenges her.

“I get to be physical on court with basketball and I get to learn new skills. And also, it was really challenging for me at first," Schmidt said. It still is challenging at times for me. And I've always loved a challenge. So basketball's been perfect for me.”

The game is now giving her a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, a chance to play on the U-19 Team USA squad in the United World Games this June. It's an opportunity to play against some of the world's best.

“At first, when I found out, it was a little intimidating," Schmidt said. "It's an exciting opportunity, but it's also a learning experience. So to have, like, older girls be there and I can learn from them just by watching, it's very exciting.”

Schmidt said the biggest challenge is being the youngest on the team and having to play against taller opponents with more experience.

“I've played with Division I girls," Schmidt said. "Girls that are, like, absolute giants, even compared to me. I've played girls that are like 6 feet 2 inches tall and I find it more fun in the game when somebody has an advantage over me. So to have older girls on the team and like on the other teams, it's very exciting.”

Schmidt won’t be alone in the endeavor. She’s joining fellow upstater Natalia DiPaolo on the trip. While they will play in different age groups, she said it’s an opportunity to grow what is already a close friendship.

“To have someone there that I know that I'm like, 'hey, do you wanna go sit together at dinner or something,' is very is comforting as well," Schmidt said. "I'm very excited for her and me. I was just ecstatic. It's a very special opportunity, especially to get to know her even more than I already do and be a part of her experience and her be a part of mine. It's just I feel like it will amplify how good the trip will be, and I'm very excited for it. So I'm so glad that I get the opportunity to represent doing something that I love like this.”

The hope is that this will be the first of many times she’ll get this opportunity.

"They have multiple to Germany, Costa Rica," Schmidt said. "So I don't know, I might try to go again if this trip goes as planned.”