SALAMANCA (2010 FIBA World Championship for Women) – Spain’s rising star Alba Torrens would relish the chance to take on the United States and Australia at next year’s FIBA World Championship for Women in the Czech Republic.

The 20-year-old shooting guard made her senior team bow with the Spanish at the Beijing Olympics and also played a leading role for this year’s team at the EuroBasket Women in Latvia, helping the national side capture a bronze medal.

The draw for the 2010 FIBA World Championship for Women takes place on Tuesday in the Czech Republic.

"We are aware that the World Championship is the next tournament with the national team and that it is the next challenge that Spain will face," said Torrens, who averaged more than 25 minutes per game this summer in Latvia.

Torrens has yet to compete in a World Championship for the senior side but at the Olympics, she had a dramatic impact, especially when announcing her arrival with an 18-point game in Spain’s opener against the tournament’s hosts, China.

"Just like at the Olympics, at the World Championship you will have all the top basketball nations like the USA, Australia, China,” Torrens said.

“I think it will be more different with respect to a EuroBasket.

"I would like to face the USA because you always want to play a game against a team with that kind of potential.

“We are looking forward to facing the European teams and proving once again that we are at the same level as other teams.

"It would have a special significance to me to meet Australia because I have never had the opportunity to face them and they are the defending champions."

FIBA