Career: Dakar Université Club (Senegal, 1997-98), Old Dominion University (USA-NCAA, 1998-02), Drafted by Sacramento Monarchs (1st round, 12 choice), Sacramento Monarchs (USA-WNBA, 2002), Yaya Maria Breogan Lugo (Spain-LFB, 2002-03), Sacramento Monarchs (USA-WNBA, 2003), Yaya Maria Breogan Lugo (Spain-LFB, 2003-04), Sacramento Monarchs (USA-WNBA, 2004), Yaya Maria Breogan Lugo (Spain-LFB, 2004-05), Sacramento Monarchs (USA-WNBA, 2005), Cavigal Nice (France-LFB, 2005-06), Sacramento Monarchs (USA-WNBA, 2006), USO Mondeville (France-LFB, 2006-07), Houston Comets (USA-WNBA, 2007), Gambrinus Brno (Czech Republic, 2007-08), Houston Comets (USA-WNBA, 2008)

Hamchetou Maïga is arguably the best player in Africa. “Tanty”, as she is nicknamed, is well known by everybody in Mali. À real star in her country, Hamchetou started with the National Team in 1994 at 16 and is still playing. The MVP of the 2007 FIBA Africa Championship, Maiga scored, rebounded and provided plenty of assists. She won a WNBA title in 2005 with the Sacramento Monachs, the club that drafted her in 2002 (12th choice overall) after four years at Old Dominion University. Before her NCAA career, she left Mali to play in Dakar for top-team Dakar Université Club and was dubbed “Queen of Basketball” in Senegal. She was the lleague MVP and captured the African Champions Cup in 1998. Maiga played in the EuroLeague Women Final Four this year with Czech Republic giants Gambrinus Brno.