Waves hoops duo take talents to international stage

By McKenzie Jackson · Sat Aug 22 2026

Pepperdine’s Taija Sta. Maria represents Canada in 3x3 competition while Lina Falk joins Germany’s senior national team

Pepperdine Waves women’s basketball players Taija Sta. Maria and Lina Falk have taken their skills to the global stage.

Sta. Maria, a 5-foot-6 point guard, was part of the Canadian U21 Women’s 3x3 team that won the July 20-26 FIBA 3x3 Youth Nations League 2026 – Americas South – Stop 5 tournament in Asunción, Paraguay. Falk, a 6-foot-2 shooting guard, began training camp with the German National Team on Aug. 9 to prepare for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin in September.

Both players, entering their senior years of college, have represented their countries on the court previously.

Sta. Maria, from Mississauga, Ontario, said playing for Canada is always a goal.

“It’s an honor to represent your country,” she said. “I’m really grateful — it was a great team and group of girls I got to do it with. We really had fun the whole week.”

Falk, a Wolfenbüttel, Germany, native, is proud to wear Germany’s colors on the basketball court.

“It is a huge honor,” she said. “I’m really honored to be part of the senior national team. It means a lot to me to represent my country. It shows that all the work I have put in paid off.”

Sta. Maria and Canada went 14-0 in Paraguay. The squad opened the tournament with a tough overtime victory over Argentina and then beat them six days later in the championship, 19-9.

“Over the week, you could really see us improve in our offensive sets and chemistry,” Sta. Maria noted.

The team’s performance qualified Canada for the FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup 2026 in Wuhan, China, on Sept. 15-19.

Initially, Sta. Maria was a bit nervous because she had never played 3x3 basketball before, but she settled down by the third day. The guard, who hit around two 3-pointers a game, said she learns something new each time she plays FIBA basketball.

“The competition is very elite,” she explained. “The biggest thing I can translate from that to my five-on-five game is the mentality. Since it’s so fast you don’t have the time to dwell on mistakes. You don’t remember the last shot you took. You play with a clear mind. You rely on your instincts.”

The Canadians were possibly the biggest squad in the event.

“My teammates — just being physical and being able to body someone to get an extra rebound — that was huge for us,” Sta. Maria said. “We learned how physical we could be without the refs calling stuff. It helped on the defensive end.”

Sta. Maria added that Brazil was Canada’s best matchup.

“One of our games went into overtime,” she said. “They were skilled. They hit big shots. We hit big shots.”

Sta. Maria averaged 7.4 points and 3.6 assists a game for Pepperdine last season. She previously played two seasons at Fresno State.

Sta. Maria played on Canada’s U16 and U17 teams in five-on-five international tournaments.

“Growing up in that system really helped me with my IQ the most,” she recalled. “From a young age, I was learning the names and actions and how to run an action.”

Sta. Maria hosted a basketball camp at Eurostep Basketball in Toronto on Aug. 7. The campers — girls ages 8 to 15 — played a game during which they donned Sta. Maria’s Canada gear.

“It’s cool to see other kids smiling and looking up to you,” Sta. Maria said.

After a couple of days, Falk said training camp with Germany’s senior national squad had been good.

“It is definitely intense compared to college,” she explained. “I feel like I can learn a lot from the older, more experienced players.”

Falk, who dreams of playing professional basketball after college, said competing with the national team is a different level of physicality than she has experienced before. She said using her athleticism and playing with pace like she does with the Waves is key to her success on the international level.

“Slowing down to read the game better, playing off two feet to see the best path available,” she added.

Germany defeated Spain 65-60 in a friendly match on Aug. 15 in Ludwigsburg, Germany. The squad has another friendly against Hungary on Aug. 23 and then one against Turkey ahead of the World Cup.

She began playing basketball when she was a tyke, following in the sneaker steps of her dad Thorsten Falk and brother Anton Falk. Lina and Anton attended all of their dad’s club team games.

“We were in the gym since I was a baby,” Lina said. “My brother started practicing with a mixed team and his coach asked me if I wanted to join. I did and it was fun.”

Falk also tried ballet, track, and swimming, but nothing fulfilled her like basketball — particularly the team aspect.

“Having people around me,” she said. “Sharing success — winning and losing together. At Pepperdine, being on a team is amazing. Being part of a group of girls who work toward the same goals is just fun. The feeling of being on the court is fun.”

Falk played on the German U15 team when she was 14. She played at a tournament in France and realized she wanted to focus on hoops.

Falk was also on the German squad in the 2021 FIBA U18 Women’s European Challengers, the 2022 U18 European Championships, and the 2022 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup. She was called up to the senior national team for the first time last year ahead of FIBA EuroBasket.

Falk always enjoys playing against Spain.

“They are really competitive and have some of the best players in Europe,” she noted.

Falk played two seasons at Sacramento State before Pepperdine head coach Katie Faulkner recruited her to the Waves.

“Pepperdine is really focused on culture and being together as a team,” Falk said. “It is kind of the same as the national team here.”

She scored 11.9 points and grabbed 4.9 rebounds a game last season. She also hit 39.8% of her 3-pointers.

Falk is digging her sneakers into a more defensive role with the national team.

“I have a good chance of being with the team for a long time,” Falk said. “When I’m open, I shoot the ball, but I work on defense and push the ball ahead to teammates to score.”

Sta. Maria enjoyed the 3x3 experience.

“I hope I get another opportunity to play for Team Canada,” Sta. Maria explained. “I think the biggest thing is how free you can play. You have strategy, but the game is so fast you can’t have strategy like you do in five-on-five. 3x3 is a let‑loose game, not too serious. Being with a team that trusts you, you play with a clear mind.”