Senior forward Nicole Lukito of the University of California, Merced women’s basketball team has earned a spot on the Indonesia Women’s Basketball National Team for the 2026 Asian Games, scheduled from September 16 to October 4, 2026, in Aichi 6 Nagoya, Japan.
Lukito, a Fremont, California native, is a three-time All-Conference First Team selection and was named a 2025 Third Team All-American. She has averaged 13.6 points and a program-record 12.6 rebounds per game throughout her collegiate career at UC Merced.
She stands as the only player in the UC Merced program’s history with more than 1,000 career points and 1,000 rebounds. Additionally, Lukito holds the program record with 50 double-doubles and ranks in the top three all-time for field goal percentage, blocks, and minutes played. She has appeared in 82 games and started 70, and is a two-time recipient of UC Merced’s Georgette “Ma” Kelley Female Athlete of the Year award.
During her sophomore year, Lukito led the Bobcats to both a California Pacific Conference Regular Season and Tournament Championship, marking the program’s final year competing at that level.
The Asian Games are Asia’s largest multi-sport event, held every four years and organized by the Olympic Council of Asia, featuring 45 countries or regions. The Indonesia women’s basketball team advanced to the quarterfinals in 2022. They will commence group play at the 2026 Games against Thailand on September 16 at 9:00 p.m. PST, followed by a game against China on September 18 at 6:00 p.m. PST.
CSB Take
Nicole Lukito’s selection to the Indonesia Women’s Basketball National Team highlights her outstanding collegiate career and rising international profile. Her record-setting achievements at UC Merced underscore her dominance and versatility on the court. Competing at the 2026 Asian Games will offer valuable experience against elite competition and spotlight UC Merced’s growing women9s basketball program on an international stage.
Source: Original report
