Spanish warrior Nicholls ready to battle for Avenida
SALAMANCA (EuroLeague Women) - When you need someone with a hard-nosed edge who knows how to stand up and be counted at the elite level, look no further than Laura Nicholls.
With a stack of honors playing in a Spanish national team vest lighting up her resume, the forward is now eyeing up Liga Femenina and EuroLeague Women success with Perfumerias Avenida after moving to the club during the off-season.
It looks to be a shrewd move by the Salamanca based side. They will benefit from the work ethic of Nicholls, who is an absolute rock and will form a seriously tough frontcourt partnership with Angelica Robinson and Erika Souza. She will also connect around the basket with fellow Spanish forwards Laura Quevedo and Laura Gill too.
The player is also aware of the demands that will be placed on her by the expectant home fans at Pabellon Wurzburg, who absolutely love their EuroLeague Women game nights.
"I had never seen something like this in my entire career - being at a club as big as Perfumerias Avenida," revealed the Santander native.
"I felt a great respect when entering the arena - seeing it forms part of this club and its tradition, so I only hope not to disappoint the team and the fans.
"I have been in many places in Europe and haven't seen respect like this. I want them to feel part of the team and I want to enjoy it with them.
"Avenida has it all, it is the most competitive team in Spain and has been for many years. For me, this is the most important challenge of my sports career," continued Nicholls.
"I imagine they need my intensity, charisma and not giving up on any balls as being lost. For me, the objective is to always win everything - from every training to every game."
The love is mutual, with Avenida President, Jorge Recio stating: "She is one of the great players of European basketball that had still not dressed in the jersey of Avenida.
"Almost all the great Spanish players have been here, but we were missing Laura, but luckily we now have her."
The early signs have been encouraging, with Avenida winning a pre-season tournament hosted by Yakin Dogu Universitesi last week and they will be strongly fancied to land domestic silverware, as well as registering a highly competitive season in EuroLeague Women.
FIBA
