Arisa Ihara to Join NCAA Division I Program in the U.S.; Special PROJECT GLP Event Featuring Evelyn Mawuli to Be Held on July 26

“LaLaport presents PROJECT GLP” has produced its first case of a Japanese women’s basketball player advancing to a U.S. university. At the public event, Sporta Japan will share the stories and journeys of three next-generation players taking on global challenges.

Sporta Japan Corporation is pleased to announce the three selected members for the 2026 “LaLaport presents PROJECT GLP (Japan Got Next)” program. The project supports Japanese women’s basketball players in their pursuit of opportunities overseas, with Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd. serving as the official sponsor.

2026 Selected Members

ARISA IHARA: Committed to the University of Richmond, an NCAA Division I program

KOKONE KUROKAWA: Received a scholarship offer from Oklahoma City University

HANNA KAKUTA: Received a scholarship offer from Arizona Western College

All three players visited colleges in the United States, where they connected with local basketball personnel and participated in training sessions and showcases. Through these experiences, each player has taken a concrete step toward pursuing opportunities overseas.

Sporta Japan is also pleased to announce that Arisa Ihara, a PROJECT GLP participant, has committed to University of Richmond, a leading NCAA Division I program in the United States.

This marks PROJECT GLP’s first case of a player advancing to a U.S. university and represents a new model for Japanese women’s basketball players pursuing international career pathways.

To share this initiative more widely, Sporta Japan will host a special event, “LaLaport presents PROJECT GLP – Japan Got Next –,” at Mitsui Shopping Park LaLaport TOKYO-BAY on Sunday, July 26, 2026, starting at 3:00 PM.

Sporta Japan Corporation will continue to provide ongoing support as they move forward in their respective journeys.

About LaLaport presents PROJECT GLP

LaLaport presents PROJECT GLP (Japan Got Next) is a development and international career support project operated by Sporta Japan Corporation, with Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd. serving as its official sponsor. The project aims to create opportunities for Japanese women’s basketball players to challenge themselves overseas and ultimately help develop players who can reach the WNBA.

Japan has many female players with the potential to succeed on the global stage. However, many have lacked the connections, networks, and information needed to access pathways to U.S. universities and the NCAA. As a result, talented players have often been unable to even pursue these opportunities. PROJECT GLP aims to become the pipeline that has been missing. At a time when the women’s basketball market is expanding rapidly, the project seeks to send promising Japanese players onto the global stage as early as possible.

Women’s basketball in the United States is now experiencing explosive growth in popularity. The 2024 NCAA Women’s Championship Game, which determines the national champion in college basketball, averaged approximately 18.9 million viewers, surpassing the men’s championship game for the first time in history.

At the professional level, the WNBA also set a new record, with annual attendance exceeding 3 million for the first time. The league’s media rights deal has reached $2.2 billion over 11 years — one of the largest agreements in women’s sports history — and the league is scheduled to expand to 18 teams by 2030. Both popularity and economic value continue to grow rapidly.

The path to the WNBA, the highest level of women’s basketball, runs almost entirely through the NCAA. In practice, the gateway to the WNBA is the U.S. college basketball system, making NCAA competition one of the most reliable pipelines to the world’s top stage.

Through PROJECT GLP, Sporta Japan will select promising female players between the ages of 17 and 20 and create opportunities for them to connect with U.S. college basketball programs through showcases in the United States and participation in local college programs. The project will provide pathways across a wide range of categories, including NCAA, NAIA, and JUCO programs, while supporting players in pursuing overseas study and building global athletic careers.

Special Event Overview

“LaLaport presents PROJECT GLP – Japan Got Next –”

“Japan Got Next” reflects the belief that Japan’s next generation of players will be the ones to shine on the global stage. Based on this vision, the event will share new career possibilities through overseas challenges with a broader audience.

Date & Time: Sunday, July 26, 2026, from 3:00 PM

Venue: Midori no Hiroba, North Gate 1F, Mitsui Shopping Park LaLaport TOKYO-BAY

Admission: Free / Advance registration required

Registration: https://peatix.com/event/5045351

The event is open to basketball fans, as well as parents interested in their children’s future career paths and opportunities overseas. Advance registration is required.

Program Schedule (Tentative)

Part 1: LaLaport presents PROJECT GLP Special Talk Session

Speakers: Evelyn Mawuli / Yusuke Katoku, CEO of Sporta Japan Corporation

This session will introduce the background behind the launch of PROJECT GLP and discuss new possibilities for Japanese women’s basketball players pursuing opportunities overseas.

Part 2: Special Session on Overseas Challenges

Speakers: Evelyn Mawuli / Arisa Ihara / Yusuke Katoku

The discussion will take a closer look at Arisa Ihara’s journey toward committing to the University of Richmond and explore the possibilities of building a global career.

Part 3: Next-Generation Players Talk Session

Speakers: Evelyn Mawuli / Kokone Kurokawa / Hanna Kakuta / Yusuke Katoku

The speakers will share the players’ experiences leading up to their scholarship offers and the decisions each of them made along the way.

*Program content is subject to change.