City of Basketball Love

By Josh Verlin (@jmverlin)
—

Lena Stein had to make more than just a decision between two colleges. 

The Perkiomen Valley senior wing had to pick between continuing to play with her older sister Anna Stein at Kutztown — or becoming her biggest rival on the court. And as it turned out, the pull of West Chester University was just too strong.

“I’ve been looking around at quite a few schools, and I just walked on campus [at West Chester] and it just felt so right,” she said. “Everyone always talks about that feeling, when they’re like ‘oh, you just have that feeling that you know this is your school,’ and I really did feel like that.”

That just meant breaking some bad news to her sister. 

After being teammates for three years at the high school level and best friends all their lives, Lena Stein was choosing to make them adversaries on the court. 

“We talked about it, and she was very understanding,” Lena said. “She’ll always be my best friend, and as amazing [as it would be] to play with her, this was just the right decision and she totally understood that.”

Stein made her college pick public this week, announcing her commitment to Keira Wooden's program on social media.

There have been three Stein sisters who’ve come through the Perk Valley program one year behind the other over the last six years, 2023 grad Ella Stein the oldest of the trio to suit up for head coach John Russo. 

Lena, a 5-foot-10 wing, will be a four-year starter for the PAC powerhouse when she suits up for the Vikings this winter. She’s made her mark as a defensive specialist, an aggressive athlete with a plus wingspan and energy to spare. She honed that presence in practice as an underclassman, one particular matchup firing her up more than any other, according to her coach.

“She would always be so kind and caring and let the older sisters do their thing, but you could always tell when she was matched up with them, she wanted to win that matchup more than any other matchup in the gym,” Russo said. “It really was evident that they cared for each other, but when they had to battle in practice or playing time or in game or for a shot or a spot, they didn’t care if they were related.”

Lena Stein credited her ability to play with the Comets on the Girls’ Under Armour Association circuit the last few years for helping her really show her abilities on the stopping end of the court, having to go up against many of the top players in the country.

“I’d be guarding these crazy commits and it really just brings me so much joy,” she said, “and when I stop on the court and have the opportunity to guard such a good player, it really just motivates me and it seriously is just what I love to do.”

Stein's made her mark as a high-level defender. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

That defensive presence was a major reason that West Chester assistant coach Alison Hostettler reached out to Stein earlier in the spring, connecting her quickly with Wooden, who's been the Golden Rams' coach since 2014. The two got Stein on campus to see the school of 14,000 undergraduates, offering her a scholarship while she was there. 

It was an instant hit for the rising senior. 

“I just think we walked into the gym and I truly saw myself there, I could envision myself there,” Lena Stein said. “The way I got along with the coaches, our conversations, it all felt so right.

“It’s so awesome just seeing two such powerful women as coaches, and instantly their energy was just amazing.”

Stein played out the rest of the summer with the Comets, waiting to see what else was out there for her while also mulling the decision over in her mind. 

It came down, of course, to West Chester and Kutztown. The two Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East  foes finished second and third in the division respectively last year, the Golden Rams ultimately making it to the 2024 NCAA Division II tournament, their second consecutive appearance. 

“Kutztown, too, was very close, it was not an easy decision,” Lena Stein said. “I was torn because of my sister and I have nothing bad to say about that school. 

“I just felt like I should take my own path. I’ve been playing with my sisters my whole life, and as much as I’d love to do that for four more years, it would be taking a risk, my own path, and going to a school I know I could see myself at and taking my own journey.”

Lena’s sure to see her fair share of PSAC hoops this season, both when she goes to see her sister play for Kutztown and when she goes to watch her future West Chester teammates. And even though she won’t be suiting up for the Golden Rams for another year, when she goes to see KU play WCU this year, she already knows who she’ll be cheering for.

“We’re sisters, I love her,” Lena Stein said, “but those two games — she’s not my sister anymore.”