COLLEGE PARK, MD -- Maryland women's basketball head coach
Brenda Frese officially signed Slovenian guard Lea Bartelme (lay-UH bar-TEL-muh) to the roster for the 2025-26 season Wednesday.
LEA BARTELME
Guard • 5-8
Kisovec, Slovenia
- On the Slovenian National Team since 2023
- Played for Cinkarna Celje from 2019-2025 in the Women's Adriatic Basketball Association (WABA)
- Averaged 12.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 6.8 assists and led the league in assists with Cinkarna Celje in 2024-25
- Cinkarna Celje team won the Slovenian championship in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 and the Slovenian cup championship in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
- Team won the WABA in 2022, 2023, 2024 and finished as runner-up in 2025
- Named to the All Star 5 for the WABA league in 2024 and 2025
- Won U17 and U15 WABA league titles in 2020
- Slovenian U20 champion with Cinkarna Celje (U20 team): 2025 (MVP of F4)
- Slovenian U18 champion (U18 team) with Cinkarna Celje: 2021, 2022, 2023 (MVP of F4 2023)
- Slovenian U17 champion with Cinkarna Celje (cadet team): 2020, 2021 (MVP of F4 2021)
- Led Slovenia to U18 European championship in 2023 as team captain; was named to All Star 5
- Slovenian team took fifth in the U20 European championship in 2024; led the team in scoring and assists
- In 2022, played in the U17 World Cup and led Slovenia to ninth place; finished second in assists and picked up a triple-double vs. Argentina (11 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists)
- Led Slovenia to first place to U18 European championship (B division) in 2022
- Played with the Slovenian Senior National Team in the 2025 FIBA EuroBasket Qualifiers and will play in the FIBA Eurobasket 2025 this summer
Frese on Bartelme: "Lea is a dynamic guard who really impressed us when we watched her. She has so much experience having played for her senior national team. She has a really high IQ and has been tested at the international level. She's a versatile player that displayed the ability to knock down the three and attack the basket. We're excited to add her and her family to our family. Maryland fans are going to love her."
Bartelme on Maryland: "I'm excited to announce that I've reached a point in my journey where I'm ready to take the next step in my career. I'm grateful for the opportunity that has opened up for me, and after careful consideration, I've decided to commit to the University of Maryland. Maryland offers excellent conditions for both academic and athletic development, and with their long-standing tradition of success, I truly believe this is the right step forward for my personal and professional growth. I'm looking forward to what's ahead and can't wait to start this new chapter."
