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August 2016
09/06/2016
News
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Where stars and legends are born

UDINE (FIBA U16 Women’s European Championship) – We take a look down the history books and pick out just some of the stars whose stellar careers were born at youth level, including the FIBA U16 Women’s European Championship.

(2004) Alba Torrens, Spain
One of the biggest global stars of the women’s game, Torrens stepped out at U16 level back in 2004. She fuelled what was her country’s second-ever title at the event – although incredible success for Spain would of course follow during the subsequent years. Now a superstar in EuroLeague Women, an Olympian, a EuroBasket Women winner and a regular at the highest level in a multitude of All-Star Five teams, Torrens has come a long way since her U16 debut. Notably it was her defensive qualities which also impressed as Spain beat Serbia and Montenegro to gold. They conceded a meagre average of just 46 points per game across the entire tournament, with Torrens lining up alongside current senior Spanish team-mate, Laura Nicholls.

(1991) Ticha Penicheiro, Portugal
Stepping out and firing 23 points in her first game of the U16 tournament in 1991 on home soil, the Portuguese star hit the ground running. However, Portugal went 0-and-7, with Penicheiro posting a modest contribution for the remainder of the competition. Yet it was an early window on an astonishing talent which evolved into her becoming a legend on both sides of the Atlantic. Winning EuroLeague Women and EuroCup Women titles, it was Stateside in the WNBA where she would truly make her mark. A four-time All-Star, the All-Time WNBA assists leader and a WNBA champion – she was voted as one of the top WNBA players of All-Time and is the best Portugal has ever produced. @tichapenicheiro

(2003) Anastasiya Verameyenka, Belarus
Taking place in Nevsehir, the Belarusian frontcourt standout posted one of the best individual displays the tournament has seen, recording an eye-popping double-double of 19.5 points and 12.8 rebounds per game. Her performance in the Semi-Finals against the highly-fancied Spain was one of the greatest of all time at the FIBA U16 Women’s European Championship, as Verameyneka corralled a brilliant 30 points and 21 points. Belarus took their first youth medal and a star was born, with the player returning to Turkey to excel in EuroLeague Women for Fenerbahce, while also competing in the 2014 FIBA Women’s World Championship – just one of many major tournaments now on her resume for club and country. She is also one of the best female shot-blockers on the planet.

(2014) Maria Vadeeva, Russia
Maria Vadeeva was named MVP of the tournament in Debrecen as she propelled Russia to the title with a staggering 17.9 points and 16.2 rebounds per game – as well as a monstrous 33 blocks. In the process she made the continent sit up and take notice as the newest and one of the most high-profile teenage phenomenons around the women’s game worldwide. Her skills witnessed her play for the senior Russia team at EuroBasket Women Final Round a year later when still only 16. Since that time, she has played in EuroCup Women with Sparta&K M.R. Vidnoje and is being hailed as a potential great – even if her career is still firmly in its infancy and she will be playing in youth tournaments for a few more summers yet. @masha_vadeeva

(1993) Amaya Valdemoro, Spain
A first summer wearing her beloved Spain vest proved to be inspiring to Valdemoro, who wasted little time in announcing her arrival with a vibrant and eye-catching 18 points per game in Poprad, Slovak Republic. It was enough to carry her country to the Final. An unbelievable and stellar career was born as Valdemoro went on to become an Olympian and a EuroLeague Women legend who scored almost 2,500 points in the competition, having played for an array of the top clubs. She is now a FIBA ambassador for the women’s game and retired after winning EuroBasket Women 2013 – doing so alongside Elisa Aguilar, who played alongside her right from the outset back in 1993. @valdemoro13

(1995) Laura Macchi, Italy
An Italian basketball legend, Macchi emerged onto the European scene more than two decades ago and is still going strong with an outstanding EuroLeague Women career to her name – mainly as a long-standing servant of Beretta Famila Schio, where she is worshipped by the fans. She has sunk almost 200 triples in her EuroLeague Women career and that makes her one of the tournament’s best-ever from downtown, having originally showcased her shooting skills back during 1995 in Cetniewo, Poland. Macchi propelled Italy into the Final for the first time in some 15 years with a team high 13.1 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.

FIBA