Rusne Augustinaite has just received the best birthday present anyone could ever ask for, a visit from her mother to watch her play basketball for the first time in six years.
Clemson women’s basketball on X and Instagram posted a video of Augustinaite being surprised by her mother from Lithuania.
Augustinaite is a junior six foot guard and a native of Siaulia, Lithuania, the fourth most popular city in Lithuania.
Being from anywhere outside of North America and transferring over to the states creates distance from family, distance that can in raw honesty make or break an athlete’s career.
She made her thoughts on the kind gesture known to the public, on instagram her message states,”Yesterday my teammates surprised me with my mom coming to visit for my birthday… and I’m still trying to process it. In six years of playing in the United States, she hasn’t been able to come see me play, so this moment means more than I can put into words. My team went above and beyond to make a lifelong memory for me and my mom, and I’m endlessly grateful to everyone who helped make this happen.This is family. Thank you Clemson family🧡💜”
I have the honor of being in a Sports News Media class with Rusne and she expressed how she felt about the situation to our class.
“In six years of playing in the United States, she hasn’t been able to come see me play.”
“I’m still speechless and lost for words on the experience.” She said during our COMM 3290 class with Samuel Hakim.
Augustinaite transferred to Clemson this past offseason after two seasons at Georgia Tech, where she averaged 8.4 points in 59 games.
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