Will lure of WNBA inspire Ben Abdelkader to EuroCup Women success?
ANTAKYA (EuroCup Women) - One of the most explosive talents in European basketball, Hatay star Hind Ben Abdelkader could be the player to help her team lift EuroCup Women in 2018.
The Turkish club are in the Quarter-Finals of the competition and are up against ESBVA-LM, with the Belgian guard potentially the player to catapult them into the last four.
While all eyes have been understandably on the monumental double-doubles of powerhouse center Courtney Paris, Ben Abdelkader has been the one bringing the noise from the backcourt with her dynamic scoring ability.
Such has been the impact of her contributions, WNBA franchise Indiana Fever have come knocking and the combo has signed as a free agent rookie for the 2018 season.
📣 JUST ANNOUNCED 📣: The #Fever have signed 5’8 combo guard Hind Ben Abdelkader.
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) February 14, 2018
Learn more about Hind 👉 https://t.co/FJz0kUEIAH pic.twitter.com/0S1dBOI5Oo
Fever head coach Pokey Chatman certainly knows all about the European game having delivered EuroLeague Women success with Sparta&K M.R. Vidnoje and it will be intriguing to see if her newest recruit can make an impact Stateside.
On the radar for many years since she was a youth player racking up massive scores, some observers had wondered if she could find some stability and produce at the top level. Now, Ben Abdelkader is proving any of her doubters wrong by producing the goods in the highly competitive Turkish League - as well as EuroCup Women where she has poured in 16 points per game.
The one question mark which remains, is whether she is going to be able to find some settlement with the Belgium national team? She missed out on their historic bronze at FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017 and while she is about to turn an exciting new chapter in the WNBA, will there be an overdue reunion at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2018 in Tenerife?
For now though, one of Europe's most entertaining and unpredictable players has business to attend to with Hatay. Currently competing in the Turkish Cup and with a EuroCup Women title in sight, Ben Abdelkader has certainly found a home in Antakya and it is helping to take her game to new heights.
FIBA
