From Lehigh to the pros, Lily Fandre adjusts to life in Switzerland.

When Lily Fandre, ‘26, first arrived on Lehigh’s campus, she never thought she’d one day be living alone in Switzerland, playing professional basketball thousands of miles away from her home.

Since graduating from Lehigh, Fandre is adjusting to an unfamiliar country, a different type of competition and life without her normal routines of family and academics.

Fandre is continuing her basketball career in Riva San Vitale, Switzerland, where she’s competing in the country’s second-tier national league on Riva Basket. As she adjusts to her new life overseas, Fandre credits her former Lehigh coaches and teammates for preparing her for the next chapter in her basketball career.

For Fandre, the biggest adjustment has been adapting to the culture around her and learning how to communicate with the new people.

“The language barrier has been very difficult,” Fandre said. “They speak Italian where I am.”

Unlike college, where teammates spend the majority of their time together, Fandre has had to build new relationships in an unfamiliar environment.

She said the Switzerland National League isn’t nearly as competitive as what she was accustomed to at Lehigh, playing in the NCAA’s competitive DI league.

In addition to battling changes on the court, Fandre is learning how to navigate her adult life independently.

After being surrounded by friends and teammates for the past four years, she now lives alone in an apartment.

“Leaving my friends and family has been the hardest part,” Fandre said.

Even with these challenges, Fandre said graduating has also brought a sense of freedom she hadn’t felt before. Without the demands of assignments and mandatory classes, she has more time to focus on what matters to her most: basketball and adjusting to her surroundings.

Fandre’s journey in becoming a professional athlete began with her development as both a leader and player as a Mountain Hawk.

Lehigh women’s basketball head coach Addie Micir said Fandre arrived with a strong understanding of the game, but needed to develop her confidence.

“She always was the type of player that just knew and understood the game,” Micir said.

Micir said Fandre had the skills to succeed, but she often prioritized her teammates over herself. Throughout her college career, Micir encouraged her to recognize her abilities and become a more assertive player on the court.

As Fandre quickly gained confidence, she developed into a leader who knew how to reach her teammates and motivate them. Micir said those qualities helped prepare Fandre for the challenges of professional basketball.

“Who (Fandre) is as a person is what makes her so successful,” Micir said.

Senior forward Whitney Lind, who played with Fandre for three years, said she witnessed Fandre’s growth firsthand. Lind said Fandre’s confidence helped build her teammates up and made them feel comfortable and confident in themselves. Fandre helped build a positive environment within the program.

“She made everyone feel like they had a purpose on this team,” Lind said.

Lind said Fandre’s dedication and ability to balance both hard work and a positive attitude were qualities that helped her succeed in all areas of her life.

Fandre also credits Micir with always encouraging her to grow beyond basketball. With Micir’s continued support, Fandre studied abroad in Greece during her time at Lehigh, an experience that helped prepare her for living in a different country.

Fandre said Micir emphasized the importance of personal development alongside athletic success, encouraging her players to pursue opportunities outside of basketball.

Fandre participated in Lehigh’s Flight 45 leadership program, which she said helped her build confidence and continue to step out of her comfort zone.

Looking back, Fandre said those experiences helped prepare her for a future she never imagined when she first arrived on Lehigh’s campus.

“Coming in as a freshman, I never would have thought I would be on my own playing professional basketball,” Fandre said. “Lehigh truly developed me and got me ready for it.”