NEWCASTLE (Paul Nilsen's Women's Basketball Worldwide) - As an avid fan, it's always tough trying to ease off the gas when much of the women's basketball world shuts down for the festive period.

Told by everyone to re-charge the batteries and take a break, that is easier said than done as you can't turn off the passion for the game. And, when a tap is merely dripping, it can become more noticeable than when it flows. Consequently I found myself spending even more time than ever immersing myself in the snippets of what was happening [without the usual deluge of news to gorge upon]. So, here are my thoughts on a few things that may have flown under your radar during the holiday season!

Prestigious award for Wilson
One of the things that really did stand out for me was A'Ja Wilson being named USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year. When you look at the names since 2012 alone, which include two of the greatest in Diana Taurasi and Maya Moore, it shows just what a stellar gong this one is.

Wilson was so impressive in that FIBA U19 Women's World Championship Final in Chekhov against Russia and joining this elite list should give her great confidence for the future. There was also symmetry with 2013, when the then teenager Breanna Stewart also scooped the accolade for her efforts in the same competition.

What is so interesting is that while Wilson and Stewart have been the standouts in recent years at youth level, there is no guarantee whatsoever they will always be involved at senior level in coming years.

The likelihood is of course that they will be in the mix and especially if the 'old guard' of Taurasi and Co step down after Rio 2016, but they have so much work to do as competition will be really fierce. For example, Brittney Griner, Tina Charles, Candace Parker and Nnemkadi Ogwumike are just some of the frontcourt stars who Wilson is going to have to dislodge to gain court time. But it is a great challenge for her and she has the priceless mentoring of Dawn Staley to help - with the play-caller having won the exact same honour more than two decades ago!

Dumerc looks set to step down
Celine Dumerc gave the strongest hint yet that she could retire after Rio after comments on French television. There is still much water to flow under the bridge of course and whether this French legend hangs up her national team shoes or not, the real issue is how France can remain a top tier women's basketball nation without her. That question may have to be answered sooner rather than later.

While the outstanding Olivia Epoupa is such a different type of player and had her injury problems this season, she is one solution. Especially as she now has a major tournament to her name after playing at EuroBasket Women 2015 - having previously been brilliant at youth level.

Of course nobody can replace Dumerc when the time does come and those involved will surely be telling her successors that this threat of being without a world class performer, needs to be viewed through the prism of a new and significant opportunity for others looking to take the baton.

Agu Spor get my 'A rating'
Just finally, thank goodness for the KBSL which was just about the only European League which not only continued while others rested, but cranked things up with a flurry of fantastic fixtures. And, I must tip my hat in a big way to table-topping Agu Spor. The Kayseri side are making enormous strides as bonafide challengers both domestically and in EuroLeague Women, where they are growing in influence.

It's little wonder head coach Ayhan Avci has been handed a two-year contract extension and taking into account the real roller-coaster ride that Agu Spor have been on during recent years, it has been a genuinely fascinating rise to prominence.

Oh and Happy New Year by the way - I hope that 2016 is a good one for you and for the women's basketball family.

Paul Nilsen

FIBA

FIBA's columnists write on a wide range of topics relating to basketball that are of interest to them. The opinions they express are their own and in no way reflect those of FIBA.

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