Belarus look to Snytsina as they turn a major page
MINSK (FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017) - Katsiaryna Snytsina is the player Belarus will need more than ever as a leader after confirming five debutantes on board for the Final Round.
MINSK (FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017) - Katsiaryna Snytsina is the player Belarus will need more than ever as a leader after confirming four debutantes on board for the Final Round.
The inspirational Snytsina will need to post an outstanding tournament at FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017 if Belarus are to extend their status as one of the leading global women's basketball nations.
| Belarus roster for FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017 | |||
| Alexandria Bentley | Maryia Filonchyk | Viktoriya Hasper | Alena Holubeva |
| Yanina Inkina | Maryna Ivashchanka | Marina Kress | Tatsiana Likhtarovich |
| Mariya Papova | Yulia Rytsikava | Katsiaryna Snytsina | Volha Ziuzkova |
Denied their traditional central ingredient of 'twin towers' Yelena Leuchanka and Anastasiya Verameyenka, who have underpinned their success during the last decade, a change of style looks in order.
Head coach Nataliya Trafimava will be looking to Snytsina to provide the ammunition from the wings and she will be supported by WNBA guard Alex Bentley, who will jump into the naturalized spot vacated by Lindsey Harding in an eagerly anticipated debut.
The 2016 Olympians will also need Tatsiana Likhtarovich to post the kind of eye-catching displays which illuminated Rio, while Maryia Papova could be about to post her best major tournament to date, having enjoyed a productive club season at Galatasaray.
If Belarus will be hampered by the novelty of not having a dominant frontcourt, the return of veteran center Marina Kress and the evolving Maryia Filonchyk should help to dilute the problem.
As well as Filonchyk, Coach Trafimava has also handed out senior major tournament debuts to Alena Holubeva and Yanina Inkina, indicating an eye is on the future.
They will play against Italy, Slovak Republic and Turkey in Group B.
FIBA