Basketball in Spain

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Basketball isa popular popular and public sportin Spain . The basketball association Federación Española de Baloncesto (FEB) was founded on July 31, 1923 and joined the Fédération Internationale de Basketball (FIBA) in1934. A championship has been played since 1933, initially as the Copa de España in cup mode and since the 1957 season in league mode as Liga Española de Baloncesto (now Liga ACB ). With 4,053 registered clubs and 407,728 licensed players (as of 2012), basketball is the second most popular team sport in Spain after football.

Basketball team Estudiantes

National basketball competitions

Men

League ACB

Logo of the ACB league

The Spanish basketball league was first played in 1957 as Liga Española de Baloncesto and was under the patronage of the Spanish association Federación Española de Baloncesto (FEB). At that time, it replaced the Copa de España, which was held in cup mode, as the highest Spanish competition for club teams. The dominant club in the early years was Real Madrid , which did not finish as champions for only two seasons between 1957 and 1977, namely in 1958/59 when FC Barcelona won the title and in 1966/67 with the victory of Joventut de Badalona . In 1982 a separate league association called Asociación de Clubs de Baloncesto (ACB) was founded, which has been responsible for the organization and marketing of the first division since the 1983/84 season and operates largely autonomously from the Spanish umbrella organization. Since then, the top division has been called Liga ACB . The increasing professionalism also led to the rise of numerous basketball clubs, which until then were mostly overshadowed by the country's two largest sports clubs, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. Although the two clubs still hold 50 of the 59 championship titles (as of 2015), pure basketball clubs such as Joventut de Badalona, Estudiantes , Saski Baskonia , Unicaja Málaga and Valencia Basket Club have since started to compete for national and international trophies.

Until the founding of the ACB league in the 1983/84 season, the title was played in a round-robin tournament with a round trip. There were two points for a win and one point for the draw that was planned at the time. The Liga-ACB, on the other hand, consists of a basic round in which the currently 18 participating teams also play a round-robin tournament with a round trip, there are no more ties, the games won are counted, whereby in the event of a tie the direct duel before the basket ratio decides. After the regular season, the eight best-placed teams will determine the Spanish champions in a play-off . The last two placed are relegated to the LEB Oro , the second division. The record winner of the Spanish league in Spain is currently Real Madrid with 33 titles.

Copa del Rey

The Copa del Rey is currently the Spanish cup competition. It was played for the first time in 1933 as the Copa de España and was the only all-Spanish championship until 1957. It is currently being played as a Final Eight - Play-off , with the seven best teams qualifying at halftime in the league as well as the home team at the venue for this tournament, which will be played in four consecutive days (Thursday to Sunday). Record winner is currently Real Madrid with 26 titles.

Super Cup

The Supercopa de España de Baloncesto is a competition that was first held between 1984 and 1987 between the champions and the cup winners. The competition was only launched again in 2004, but since then it has been held before the start of the league and normally the Spanish champions, cup winners, the best team in international tournaments and the home team at the venue qualify for the tournament that is in the final Four play-off mode is played. If a team meets several qualification criteria, the next best team in the championship moves up. The record winner is currently FC Barcelona with five titles.

Women

Liga Femenina de Baloncesto

The Liga Femenina de Baloncesto is the highest club competition for women in Spain. It has been held since 1964 and currently consists of 14 teams. The best eight of the regular season contest a play-off for the title, the last two are relegated to the Liga Femenina de Baloncesto 2 . The current record champion is Ros Casares Valencia with twelve titles.

Copa de la Reina

The Copa de la Reina de Baloncesto is the cup competition for women. The first competition took place in 1943, but it has only been held continuously since 1978. Currently, the cup is played out as a Final Eight - Play-off , similar to the men's, with the best seven teams qualifying at halftime in the league as well as the home team of the venue for this tournament, which takes place in three consecutive days at a fixed location is played out. The record winner is Ros Casares Valencia with ten titles.

Super Cup

The Supercopa Femenina de Baloncesto has been held since the 2002/03 season following the championship between the champions and the cup winners. If a team wins the double , the cup finalist takes part in the Supercup. The current record winner is Ros Casares Valencia with six titles.

Success in international basketball competitions

Men's national team

The first official appearance of the Spanish national team took place at the European Basketball Championship in Geneva in 1935 . The Spaniards won the silver medal. Since then, the selection of men has become a fixture in international tournaments. The Iberians have had successes at the Olympic Games as well as at World and European Championships in the senior and junior sector.

Olympic games

After they failed in the final game for third place at the USSR national basketball team at the 1980 Olympic Games and thus narrowly missed a medal, they made it to the finals in Los Angeles four years later , after the favored Yugoslavia in the semifinals , with stars like Dražen Petrović or Dražen Dalipagić in their ranks, had defeated 74:61. There you met the team from the USA , which at the time was almost unbeatable , with players like Patrick Ewing , Michael Jordan , Chris Mullin , Alvin Robertson and Sam Perkins . The hosts won the final with 96:65, but the Spanish silver medal sparked a basketball euphoria in the country. The most famous players of the team at the time were Fernando Martín , Juan Antonio San Epifanio "Epi" , Juan Antonio Corbalán and Fernando Romay .

The Spaniards had to wait 24 years for another medal. At the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008 , after victories against Croatia and Lithuania in the quarter and semi-finals, they again reached the final against the USA. The American team was peppered with NBA stars such as Kobe Bryant , LeBron James , Carmelo Anthony , Dwyane Wade , Dwight Howard and Jason Kidd , but the Spaniards met them in a high-class final at eye level and finally lost with 107: 118. Outstanding players in the Spanish team at these Olympic Games were Pau Gasol , José Calderón , Rudy Fernández , Ricky Rubio and Juan Carlos Navarro .

Olympics medals
team gold silver bronze total
Men's - 1984
2008
2012 		2016 4th

World championships

World championship team 2006.

The Spanish national team led a shadowy existence for a long time at basketball world championships. The first respectable success came in 1974 when you could finish the tournament in fifth place. The result could be improved eight years later, at the World Cup in Colombia , the Spaniards reached the game for third place, which, however, was narrowly lost to the team from Yugoslavia with 117: 119. As a result, the Spanish national team was always represented in the finals and reached three more fifth places ( 1986 , 1998 , 2002 ).

The greatest success of Spanish basketball so far at national team level came at the 2006 World Cup in Japan . After victories against Serbia and Montenegro , Lithuania and Argentina in the eighth, quarter and semi-finals, they met Greece in the final , which had previously eliminated the USA . In the final, the Spaniards, especially with a very strong defensive performance, defeated their opponents 70:47 and thus won the world title for the first time. Pau Gasol was voted the best player of the tournament although he could not take part in the final game due to an injury, Jorge Garbajosa was also part of the all-tournament team .

2006 World Cup squad

Spain - World Basketball Championship 2006

4  P. Gasol  | 5  Fernández  | 6  Cabezas  | 7  Navarro  | 8  Calderón  | 9  Reyes  | 10  Jiménez  | 11  S. Rodríguez  | 12  B. Rodríguez  | 13  M. Gasol  | 14  Mumbrú  | 15  Garbajosa  | Coach  Hernández

Medals at world championships
team gold silver bronze total
Men's 2006 - - 1
U 19 (men) 1999 - 1995 2
total 2 0 1 3
Medals at the Albert Schweitzer Tournament
team gold silver bronze total
U 18 (men) 1998
2012 		1977
1979
1987
1994
2002 		1975
2004 		9
total 2 5 2 9

European championships

Spain took part in the first European basketball championships in Geneva in 1935 . After victories against Belgium and Czechoslovakia , the team reached the final, where they lost to Latvia 18:24. This sense of achievement was followed by a long dry spell, the country, weakened by the civil war (1936-1939), could not qualify for nine European Championship finals in a row, it was not until 1959 that they were back and finally reached 15th place. Since then, Spain has always qualified and has become a fixture in the continental competition. In 1963 Spain's then star Emiliano Rodríguez was voted the best player of the tournament and in 1973 the next medal followed, again silver. Four more times they only lost in the final ( 1983 , 1999 , 2003 , 2007 ), the disappointment was particularly great in 2007, Spain went into the tournament as the reigning world champion and host, as the favorite, reached the final, but lost to the Russians led by Andrei Kirilenko with 69:70. Spain's Pau Gasol missed a throw seconds before the end that would otherwise have meant victory.

The spell was broken two years later at the 2009 European Championships in Poland . With victories against France and Greece , the Iberians reached the final, where the young Serbian team was defeated 85:63. Pau Gasol was voted best player of the tournament, Rudy Fernández was part of the all-tournament team .

Squad of the European Championship 2009

Spain - European Basketball Championship 2009

4  P. Gasol  | 5  Fernández  | 6  Rubio  | 7  Navarro  | 8  claver  | 9  Reyes  | 10  Cabezas  | 11  López  | 12  Llull  | 13  M. Gasol  | 14  Mumbrú  | 15  Garbajosa  | Coach  Scariolo

At the 2011 European Championships in Lithuania , the Spaniards successfully defended their title. After victories against Slovenia and the surprise team Macedonia in the quarter and semi-finals, the team from France , around Tony Parker and Nicolas Batum, faced in the final . The Spaniards prevailed with 98:85 and thus won the second European title in a row. Juan Carlos Navarro was named the tournament's MVP and Pau Gasol was elected to the All-Tournament Team .

Squad of the European Championship 2011

Spain - European Basketball Championship 2011

4  P. Gasol  | 5  Fernández  | 6  Rubio  | 7  Navarro  | 8  Calderón  | 9  Reyes  | 10  claver  | 11  San Emeterio  | 12  Llull  | 13  M. Gasol  | 14  Ibaka  | 15  Sada  | Coach  Scariolo

Medals at European Championships
team gold silver bronze total
Men's 2009
2011
2015 		1935
1973
1983
1999
2003
2007 		1991
2001
2013 		12
U 20 (men) 2011
2016 		1996
2002
2007
2014
2015 		1994
2000
2008
2009
2010
2012
2013 		14th
U 18 (men) 1998
2004
2011 		1974
1978 		1976
1990
1994
2006
2013 		10
U 16 (men) 2006
2009
2013
2016 		1973
1983
1985
1993
1995
2007 		1979
1991
2001
2005
2011 		15th
total 12 19th 20th 51

National team of women

Just like the men, the women can also look back on numerous successes. So far, they have been represented four times at the Olympic Games , the best result was the silver medal in 2016 , when the Spaniards only failed in the final with 72: 101 to the United States . At world championships you were in the finals five times, and you have been qualified since 1994 without interruption. The best result was winning the silver medal in 2014 .

It was even more successful for Spain's women at the European basketball championships . With 16 finals participations so far, the first major success was celebrated in 1993 . In Perugia , Italy , the Spaniards won the final against France with 63:53 and won the gold medal. At the EM 2013 the Spaniards prevailed again in the final against the home team France with 70:69. In 2017 they made it to the final again and this time the Iberians won 71:55 against the French. Furthermore, five bronze and one silver medal could be won.

Olympics medals
team gold silver bronze total
Ladies - 2016 - 1
Medals at world championships
team gold silver bronze total
Ladies - 2014 2010 2
U 19 (women) - 2009
2011 		- 2
U 17 (women) - 2012
2014 		- 2
total 0 5 1 6th
Medals at European Championships
team gold silver bronze total
Ladies 1993
2013
2017 		2007 2001
2003
2005
2009
2015 		9
U 20 (women) 2007
2011
2012
2013
2015
2016
2017 		2009
2010
2014 		- 10
U 18 (women) 1998
2006
2009
2013
2015 		1990
1994
2004
2005
2007
2010
2016 		2011
2014 		14th
U 16 (women) 1999
2004
2005
2006
2008
2009
2011
2012
2013
2016 		1993
2007 		2014 13
total 25th 13 8th 46

Success in club competitions

Men's

Real Madrid versus Maccabi Tel Aviv. Euroleague 2008/09.

At the 1958 European Cup , the highest European competition for club teams until 2001, it was the Spanish team Real Madrid that broke the dominance of the teams from the Soviet Union in 1964 and became the first club from Western Europe to win the title. The team trained by Pedro Ferrándiz around stars like Emiliano Rodríguez , Clifford Luyk and Wayne Brabender won a total of five titles by 1974. After a generation change under coach Lolo Sainz , two more victories followed in 1978 and 1980. The main players of the team at that time were Juan Antonio Corbalán , Walter Szczerbiak , Fernando Romay , Iturriaga and Rafael Rullán . As a result, other Spanish teams also began to draw attention to themselves on the European stage. Joventut de Badalona won the national championship title in 1994, and FC Barcelona reached the final five times. Although the Spanish league is still considered to be one of the strongest in Europe, success at the highest level has declined since the ULEB Euroleague was founded. Although FC Barcelona were able to celebrate two titles each in 2002/03 and 2009/10 and Real Madrid in 2014/15 and 2017/18 , and TAU Vitoria reached two finals ( 2000/01 , 2004/05 ), they were often overshadowed by Panathinaikos , Maccabi Tel Aviv , CSKA Moscow and Olympiakos , who together won the tournament twelve times.

Spanish clubs title wins:

club UEL EPL EPP EC KC BCL IC FEC total
real Madrid 2 8th 4th 1 1 0 5 0 21st
FC Barcelona 2 0 2 0 2 0 1 0 7th
Joventut de Badalona 0 1 0 1 2 0 0 1 5
Valencia Basket Club 0 0 0 4th 0 0 0 0 4th
CB 1939 Canarias 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 3
CB Málaga 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 2
Saski Baskonia 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1
CB Girona 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
total 4th 9 7th 7th 6th 1 8th 2 44

Legend:

UEL : ULEB Euroleague
EPL : European Champions Cup
EPP : UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
EC : ULEB Eurocup and ULEB Cup
KC : Korać Cup
BCL : Basketball Champions League
IC : Intercontinental Cup
FEC : FIBA EuroChallenge and FIBA ​​EuroCup

Women

In the highest European club competition for women, the Euroleague Women , Dorna-Godella Valencia was able to celebrate the title twice, the successor club Ros Casares Valencia won another tournament, in four cases the club was also in the final (1994, 1995, 2007 and 2010) . Perfumerías Avenida Salamanca (2011), which also reached the final in 2009 , also holds a title in the Euroleague . Also in the final, Pool Getafe 1998 and Rivas Ecópolis failed in a purely Spanish final in 2012.

Spanish clubs title wins:

Major events in Spain

Lithuania versus Italy in the Telefónica Arena Madrid at the 2007 European Championship.

Due to the great interest of spectators, Spain regularly applies to host international basketball tournaments and finals. The following major events took place or will take place in the near future on Spanish soil:

  • Men's competitions
    • Olympic Games: 1992
    • World Championships: 1986 , 2014
    • European Championships: 1973 , 1997 , 2007
    • European Champion Clubs' Cup: 1967, 1969, 1990, 1995, 1998
    • ULEB Euroleague Final Four: 2003 , 2008 , 2011 , 2015
    • European Cup Winners' Cup: 1977, 1983, 1996, 1999
    • Eurocup: 2010
    • EuroChallenge: 2007
  • Women's competitions
    • Olympic Games: 1992
    • European Championships: 1987
    • Euroleague Women: 1977, 1979, 1991, 1993, 2009, 2010
    • Ronchetti Cup: 1986

actors

Major Spanish players

Juan Antonio Corbalán
José Calderón
Pau Gasol
  • Men (active period)
    • Emiliano Rodríguez (1956–1973): twelve-time Spanish champion and nine-time cup winner. Four European championship cups, MVP of the finals in 1963 and 1964. MVP of the basketball championship in 1963 and 1969. Member of the FIBA Hall of Fame .
    • Clifford Luyk (1958–1978): Fourteen-time Spanish champion and ten-time cup winner. Six European championship cups, MVP of the 1965 finals.
    • Wayne Brabender (1965–1985): Thirteen-time Spanish champion and seven-time cup winner. Four European championship cups. MVP of the 1973 European Basketball Championship.
    • Juan Antonio Corbalán (1971–1991): twelve-time Spanish champion and seven-time cup winner. Three European championship cups. MVP of the 1983 European Basketball Championship.
    • Fernando Romay (1976–1993): eight-time Spanish champion and five-time cup winner. Two European championship cups. Heads the all-time leaderboard of the Spanish league with 677 blocks.
    • Fernando Martín (1979-1989): First Spaniard drafted by the NBA (1985), first Spaniard and one of the first Europeans in the NBA (1986/87, Portland Trail Blazers). Four-time Spanish champion and two-time cup winner. Member of the FIBA ​​Hall of Fame.
    • Juan Antonio San Epifanio "Epi" (1979–1994): seven-time Spanish champion and ten-time cup winner. With 3,358 points and 239 games, it leads the eternal leaderboards of the Spanish national team.
    • Ferran Martínez (1985–2002): seven-time Spanish champion and two-time cup winner. Greek champion (1998). Won all international titles of his time (European Champion Clubs 'Cup, European Cup Winners' Cup, Intercontinental Cup, Korac Cup). MVP of the final of the 1994 European Cup.
    • Alberto Herreros (1988–2005): With 9,757 points and 1,233 converted three-point throws, he leads the respective eternal leaderboards of the Spanish league. Top scorer in the 1998 World Cup (161 points) and the 1999 European Championship (173 points).
    • Juan Carlos Navarro (since 1997): 2006 World Champion and 2009 European Champion. Five-time Spanish champion, three-time cup winner. A title in the ULEB Euroleague (2002/03). MVP of the ULEB Euroleague in the 2008/09 season.
    • José Calderón (since 1998): 2006 World Champion. Holds the all-time NBA record with a free throw rate of 98.1% (151 out of 154, 2008/09 ). Highest rate of assists per ball loss in the NBA in 2007-08.
    • Pau Gasol (since 1999): World Champion and MVP of the tournament 2006, European champion and MVP of the tournament 2009. NBA Rookie of the Year 2001/02, NBA All-Star 2006, 2009 and 2010, first Spanish NBA champion (2008/09 , LA Lakers). FIBA Europe Player of the Year 2008 and 2009.
    • Rudy Fernández (since 2002): World Champion 2006 and European Champion 2009. FIBA Europe Young Player of the Year 2006. Euroleague Rising Star Trophy 2006/07. Holds the all-time rookie record with 159 converted three-point hits (2008/09 NBA season). First European in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest (2009).
    • Ricky Rubio (since 2005): European Champion 2009. FIBA ​​Europe Young Player of the Year 2007, 2008 and 2009. Youngest debutant in the history of the Spanish league (14 years, 11 months and 24 days).
  • Women (active time)
    • Amaya Valdemoro (Since 1992): First Spanish woman drafted by a WNBA team and made her debut (1998). Three-time WNBA champion with the Houston Comets (1998, 1999, 2000). Six times Spanish champion, six times cup winner. Euroleague Women title (1993). Russian champion and cup winner (2006). MVP of the European Championship 2007. Record player and basket hunter of the Spanish national team.
    • Elisa Aguilar (since 1994): Rookie of the Year of the Atlantic 10 Conference (2000). Played the 2002 season with the Utah Starzz . Four-time Spanish champion and five-time cup winner.

Major Spanish coaches

Antonio Díaz-Miguel

Members of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is the most famous basketball hall of fame . It welcomes exceptional players, coaches , referees and supporters of the sport.

Members of the FIBA ​​Hall of Fame

The FIBA Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of the Fédération Internationale de Basketball . The most outstanding basketball players, coaches, referees and sponsors have been included in it since 2007, whereby performance at FIBA ​​tournaments is primarily assessed.

Spanish players in the NBA

The first Spaniard, and one of the first Europeans to make the leap into the NBA , was Fernando Martín . He played the 1986/87 season with the Portland Trail Blazers , where he only came on 25 missions, not least due to numerous injuries. The first Iberian who was able to assert himself permanently was Pau Gasol , who has been active in the highest North American professional league since 2001. Raül López , José Calderón , Jorge Garbajosa , Sergio Rodríguez , Marc Gasol , Rudy Fernández , Serge Ibaka , Ricky Rubio and Víctor Claver have also contested two or more seasons so far . In the present ( bold , as of 2018/19 ) there are a total of nine Spaniards in the squad of an NBA team.

Surname society Period
Fernando Martín Portland Trail Blazers 1986-1987
Johnny Rogers 1 Sacramento Kings
Cleveland Cavaliers 		1986-1987
1987-1988
Pau Gasol Memphis Grizzlies
Los Angeles Lakers
Chicago Bulls
San Antonio Spurs 		2001–2008
2008–2014
2014–2016
2016–
Raül López Utah Jazz 2002-2005
José Calderón Toronto Raptors
Detroit Pistons
Dallas Mavericks
New York Knicks
Los Angeles Lakers
Atlanta Hawks
Cleveland Cavaliers
Detroit Pistons 		2005–2013
2013
2013–2014
2014–2016
2016–2017
2017
2017–2018
2018–
Jorge Garbajosa Toronto Raptors 2006-2008
Sergio Rodríguez Portland Trail Blazers
Sacramento Kings
New York Knicks
Philadelphia 76ers 		2006–2009
2009–2010
2010
2016–2017
Juan Carlos Navarro Memphis grizzlies 2007-2008
Rudy Fernández Portland Trail Blazers
Denver Nuggets 		2008–2011
2011–2012
Marc Gasol Memphis grizzlies 2008–
Serge Ibaka 2 Oklahoma City Thunder
Orlando Magic
Toronto Raptors 		2009–2016
2016–2017
2017–
Ricky Rubio Minnesota Timberwolves
Utah Jazz 		2011–2017
2017–
Víctor Claver Portland Trail Blazers 2012-2015
Nikola Mirotic Chicago Bulls
New Orleans Pelicans 		2014–2018
2018–
Alex Abrines Oklahoma City Thunder 2016–
Willy Hernangomez New York Knicks
Charlotte Hornets 		2016–2018
2018–
Juan Hernangomez Denver nuggets 2016–

NBA drafts

So far, 21 Spanish players have been drafted by an NBA team . The first was Fernando Martín , who was selected in 1985 in 38th place by the New Jersey Nets . The player with the lowest pick is currently Pau Gasol , whose rights the Atlanta Hawks secured third in 2001 .

Surname Pick society year
Fernando Martín 38 New Jersey Nets 1985
Johnny Rogers 1 34 Sacramento Kings 1986
José Antonio Montero 113 Atlanta Hawks 1987
Roberto Dueñas 58 Chicago Bulls 1997
Pau Gasol 3 Atlanta Hawks 2001
Raül López 24 Utah Jazz 2001
Juan Carlos Navarro 39 Washington Wizards 2002
Albert Miralles 39 Toronto Raptors 2004
Fran Vázquez 11 Orlando Magic 2005
Sergio Rodríguez 27 Phoenix Suns 2006
Rudy Fernández 24 Phoenix Suns 2007
Marc Gasol 48 Los Angeles Lakers 2007
Serge Ibaka 2 24 Seattle SuperSonics 2008
Ricky Rubio 5 Minnesota Timberwolves 2009
Víctor Claver 22nd Portland Trail Blazers 2009
Sergio Llull 34 Denver nuggets 2009
Nikola Mirotic 23 Houston Rockets 2011
Alex Abrines 32 Oklahoma City Thunder 2013
Willy Hernangomez 35 Philadelphia 76ers 2015
Daniel Díez 54 Utah Jazz 2015
Juan Hernangomez 15th Denver nuggets 2016
1Rogers is a native of the United States , but was granted Spanish citizenship in 1996
2Ibaka is a native of the Congolese , but received Spanish citizenship in 2011

Spanish players in the WNBA

The first Spaniards to make their debut in the WNBA were Amaya Valdemoro ( Houston Comets ) and Elisabeth Cebrián ( New York Liberty ). So far, fourteen players have made it into the highest North American professional league, but only Valdemoro, who played four seasons and won three WNBA titles with the Houston Comets, has been able to establish himself permanently, Sancho Lyttle , who has been active in the highest North American professional league since 2005 .

Surname society Period
Amaya Valdemoro Houston Comets 1998-2001
Elisabeth Cebrián New York Liberty 1998
Marina Ferragut New York Liberty 2000
Begoña Garcia Detroit Shock 2002
Elisa Aguilar Utah Starzz 2002
Isabel Sánchez Detroit Shock 2004
Sancho Lyttle 3 Houston Comets
Atlanta Dream
Phoenix Mercury 		2005–2008
2009–2017
2018–
Núria Martínez Minnesota Lynx 2005
2010
Marta Fernández Los Angeles Sparks 2007
2009
Anna Montañana Minnesota Lynx 2009
Anna Cruz New York Liberty
Minnesota Lynx 		2014
2015-2016
Astou Ndour San Antonio Stars

Chicago Sky 		2014
2016
2018–
Marta Xargay Phoenix Mercury 2015-2016
Leticia Romero Dallas Wings 2018–

WNBA Drafts

So far, six Spanish women have been drafted by a WNBA team. The first player was Amaya Valdemoro , who was selected in the 1998 WNBA Draft in 30th place by the Houston Comets . The lowest pick so far was achieved by Sancho Lyttle , who was selected in fifth place by the Comets in 2005 .

Surname Pick society year
Amaya Valdemoro 30th Houston Comets 1998
Núria Martínez 36 Sacramento Monarchs 2004
Sancho Lyttle 3 5 Houston Comets 2005
Alba Torrens 36 Connecticut Sun 2009
Astou Ndour 16 San Antonio Silver Stars 2014
Leticia Romero 16 Connecticut Sun 2017
3Lyttle was born in Vincenter , but was granted Spanish citizenship in 2010

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Licencias y clubes federados en 2012. (PDF; 1677 kB) In: Spanish State Secretariat for Sport. Retrieved December 20, 2013 (Spanish).

See also

Web links