Katherine Peneueta Leads American Samoa to Victory at FIBA Women’s Polynesian Cup 2026

PAPEETE (Tahiti) – Katherine Peneueta, who won Gold at the Pacific Games seven years ago at the age of 15, played a key role in American Samoa's 72-62 victory over Tahiti at the FIBA Women’s Polynesian Cup 2026. Peneueta contributed 15 points and seven rebounds to help her team secure a commanding lead through the first three quarters.

Despite a late push from Tahiti, led by Oceane Lefranc, American Samoa maintained their advantage to clinch the win. The game remained competitive during the first half, with Tahiti staying close before American Samoa pulled away after halftime.

Peneueta noted the challenges of playing with a newly formed team, stating, "This group got put together just a couple of days ago, so we haven’t had that many opportunities to practise together. But we go out there and make it work. Our team has a lot of hard workers, a lot of hustlers on and off the bench."

American Samoa showcased a well-rounded effort, with Nevaeh Asiasi leading the scoring with 18 points, accompanied by seven rebounds, six assists, and three steals. Isabella Cravens also made an impact, posting a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds, while Sarah Smith contributed 14 points, seven rebounds, and three assists.

Peneueta shared that playing alongside Smith holds additional significance for her, as they were teammates during their gold-medal victory at the 2019 Pacific Games. "I love being able to play with her again," she remarked.

Reflecting on her past experiences, Peneueta expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to represent American Samoa again. "It brought me so much pride getting to come home and represent American Samoa, and I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to do it again."

As she steps into a leadership role, Peneueta aims to uplift the younger players in the team, stating, "We’ve got a lot of young girls on the team. All we want to do is instil confidence and uplift them."

With their first victory in hand, Peneueta believes the foundation for continued success is strong. She expressed appreciation for her support system, saying, "Shout out to all my family and all the people who allowed me to be here. I wouldn’t be able to do any of this without them."

The FIBA Women’s Polynesian Cup 2026 runs through October 24, with top teams vying for a spot in the Pacific Games 2027.