Busto Arsizio places a hit in Japan

Interesting market coup for UYBA Volleyball Busto Arsizio, which formalizes the first new addition to the roster for the 2026/27 season. And it is immediately a name destined to ignite the enthusiasm of the fans: Yukiko Wada, Japan’s national team’s starting setter-slapper, will wear the red and white jersey.

Born in Kyoto on January 8, 2002, Wada arrives in Italy after having established herself first with the JT Marvelous team and last season with Red Rockets Kawasaki, but above all after having built an international path already full of successes and performances of the highest level. Her debut with the Japanese senior national team came in 2023 during the Volleyball Nations League (an incredible 32 points in the match against the USA), a year in which she also won a prestigious bronze medal in the World Cup.

The year 2024 definitively consecrated her among the stars of world volleyball: silver at the Volleyball Nations League and participation in the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad. Her performances in 2025 were also extraordinary, both in the VNL (20 points in the semifinal against Brazil) and in the World Championship, which ended in fourth place with spectacular performances, including the 27 points she scored in the quarterfinal won against the Netherlands.

Tall “only” 174 cm, Wada has become globally famous for the power of her attacks and the impressive speed of her arm, a swing inspired by baseball pitchers. To these qualities she combines incisive serves, great elevation and an ability to make an impact in decisive moments that make her a complete and decisive player.
In Italy she will reunite with Nanami Seki, a national teammate with whom she has already shown excellent chemistry. Busto Arsizio is thus preparing to propose a “Speedy UYBA” for the 2026/27 season: an all-Nipponese main diagonal, an absolute novelty for the Italian league, which promises to bring a fast, technical and spectacular style of play, already appreciated in the top international competitions.

“I am thrilled to join UYBA for the 2026/2027 season,” noted the Japanese player. “I chose UYBA because I love their style of play. I have already seen matches on video and noticed that all the players always try their best to keep the ball in play until the last point-this characteristic I like so much. I would like to play as I am doing now and contribute to the team’s victories. I expect you at the e-work arena to cheer for me and for UYBA.”