My 16 best women's basketball moments of 2016
NEWCASTLE (Paul Nilsen's Women's Basketball Worldwide) - At the end of another calendar year, it's time to take a look back at my 16 moments from 2016.
Mali making history by winning three games at the FIBA U17 Women's World Championship in Zaragoza was a big step forward for Africa. It showed the Continent can be competitive and that Mali side was the best I've seen from any African nation at youth level.
Slovenia punching a ticket to the FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017 Final Round for the very first time. I was delighted to see them make it as it's always great to have new nations with some exciting players.
The USA winning in Rio. It's jaw-dropping and incredible how dominant they are. To do it without the likes of Nnemkadi Ogwumike or Candace Parker shows their incredible depth. But when you have Diana Taurasi, you can always do a whole lot.
What about that three-point shootout right in the middle of the EuroLeague Women Final? It was one of the best sequences of action I have ever seen and not just in the women’s game!
Seeing my fellow Brit Johannah Leedham win the EuroCup Women title with Tango Bourges. Being there in person at Le Prado was brilliant and she went on to be made captain of the French team which says it all. As does their current struggles while she is currently out with a foot injury. She's a role model for young female ballers in the UK and also a genuine hero of mine.
It is always gutting to find out about relatively young players having to retire because of injury problems. It happened to a favourite of mine in Slovak Republic's Martina Kissova and that was a big sadness for me this year.
Lauren Jackson's retirement witnessed the end of an era as one of the greatest players in women's basketball history called it a day. Jackson is a colossus whose legacy will live on. It was also kind of sad to wave goodbye to both Penny Taylor and Delisha Milton-Jones too!
When a basketball 'high five' goes ...slightly wrong....Ouch! @fiba @basketse @WNBA @ESPN_WomenHoop #FIBAU20Europe pic.twitter.com/mRJdZ81JX1
— Paul Nilsen (@basketmedia365) July 10, 2016
I enjoyed some laugh out loud moments, including this 'High Five Fail' by Sweden at the FIBA U20 Women's European Championship in Matosinhos.
It was brilliant seeing an historic breakthrough by Germany at the FIBA U16 Women's European Championship as they made the Final for the first time.
Perhaps the performance of 2016 came from Cecilia Zandalisini in the Final of the FIBA U20 Women’s European Championship in Matosinhos. The Italian rising star put her team on her back and almost handed them one of the greatest-ever comebacks, but they just fell short 71-69. Fittingly after her spectacular 28 points, she got a deserved MVP gong.
At 0-3, I was getting some criticism on twitter and amongst my 'basketball friends' for having tipped Serbia to potentially challenge for a medal at their first Olympics. I kept the faith and they came up with a fabulous bronze! Respect to Spain too, for making their first-ever Final.
With perfect timing, the next Australian generation who have been inspired by Jackson, made history with a first-ever title at the FIBA U17 Women's World Championship. From coaching, the players and the style - everything was so classy from these trailblazers. The scintillating Sapphires were a real breath of fresh air!
Nuestra capitana Laia Palau se ha convertido en la primera jugadora en lograr 1.000 asistencias en la @EuroLeagueWomen Felicidades!! pic.twitter.com/b8NH9yIz3A
— FEB (@baloncestofeb) November 4, 2016
Laia Palau becoming the first player in EuroLeague Women to hand out 1,000 assists. What a legend!
It was a long time in the making, but it was genuinely fantastic to see the WNBA Championship title land back in Los Angeles. I respect head coach Brian Agler very much and have always admired him for being bold and casting his recruitment net deep into European waters.
I saw Bosnia and Herzegovina win an historic first game in the top flight at the FIBA U20 Women's European Championship and they have some seriously good young players by the way, including the wonderful Melisa Brcaninovic.
Finally, it's a bit of a cheat to use this, but I will finish with all of those moments that I shared in 2016 with colleagues, coaches, staff, players, the media, volunteers and fans all talking about the women's game we love. And most importantly, even those interactions I had with those who don't appreciate the women's game! It keeps me in my role as a women's basketball warrior!
Paul Nilsen
FIBA
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