My 5 most improved European players of 2017
NEWCASTLE (Paul Nilsen's Women’s Basketball Worldwide) – It’s been a tough choice, but I have selected the 5 European players that I think have seen their respective stock rise most during the 2017 calendar year.
Cecilia Zandalasini [Italy and Famila Schio]
Exclusive @BlueStarMedia1 : Questions at #EuroBasketWomen2017
— Paul Nilsen (@basketmedia365) June 16, 2017
Which SIX players should @WNBA clubs be watching? https://t.co/aF1NFz3FKa pic.twitter.com/UDU87WjJ0w
A no-brainer and runaway leader for this category, 2017 will be remembered forever by the Italian and those who watched her play and evolve. It has been a scorching 12 months. Her major tournament debut at senior level for Italy was unforgettable at FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017. She made the All-Star Five in the Czech capital and captured the headlines with her sensational contributions. It ended in tears of despair rather than joy in a controversial game to go to the 2018 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup, but there was compensation lying around the corner. Zandalasini was picked up by the Minnesota Lynx for a WNBA debut and won the Championship. The main story though is that she showed new elements to her game, mainly her ability to impose herself physically on her opponents. She suddenly went from rising star to star – putting together her scoring ability with a newfound air of composure and application at the elite level. Congratulations Cecilia - what a year!
Ayse Cora [Turkey and Fenerbahce]
Such fun watching @corayse13 of @FBBasketbol playing in #EuroLeagueWomen 🏀 👀👀....the steal, the fake of the whole Wisla defense and then the score! Yes, I ❤️this play! pic.twitter.com/k9X2bMaH57
— Paul Nilsen (@basketmedia365) December 6, 2017
A change of head coach at Fenerbahce seems to have given Cora even more of a confidence boost, with Firat Okul handing her lots of scope to impress. The shooting guard has taken that chance and been one of the best players of the current EuroLeague Women season. She seems to have really matured this year and the competition in the backcourt with the likes of Ana Dabovic and young gun Pelin Bilgic is driving her forward. There is not a week that goes by when I don’t see a highlight reel possibility from her. Cora is not only more effective at both ends of the court, she is also now one of my favorite players to watch as she is always on the verge of producing something highly entertaining. I think 2018 must be the year when she also takes an even bigger step up for the national team with even more influential performances in the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2019 Qualifiers and FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup.
Eva Lisec [Slovenia and Famila Schio]
.@evalisec of @familaschio @kzs_si sustained a serious Achilles injury in #EuroLeagueWomen last night and I was so sad because she is such a nice player who is improving every season! Get healthy soon Eva! pic.twitter.com/YupTQJFoEg
— Paul Nilsen (@basketmedia365) November 24, 2017
A few years ago, I loved the potential of Lisec at youth level with Slovenia but wondered if she had the athleticism to become a leading player at the elite level. She is very, very European in her style and began emerging as a machine of consistency, reliability and now taking steps skywards. She was initially at Schio and didn't quite impose herself as she would have liked, but a move to KSC Szekszard last year to play alongside the likes of her compatriot Maja Erkic seemed to give her so much confidence. Now back at Schio, she was beginning to catch fire before having the distress of a season-ending Achilles injury. I was gutted for her. She is part of one of the most exciting national teams in Europe and Slovenia will miss her so much. Lisec played at FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017 this year on Slovenia's historic first ever appearance and with her back to full fitness in the future, her country should be back at the Final Round in 2019.
Antonia Delaere [Belgium and Castors Braine]
Congratulations Antonia Delaere of @TheBelgianCats . A super #EuroLeagueWomen debut with 20 points (6/8) for @CastorsBraine .So underrated pic.twitter.com/hZBWNGSjZF
— Paul Nilsen (@basketmedia365) October 11, 2017
Understated in almost every way, Delaere is coming out of the shadows beautifully, to now show that she is just a nice all-around player at the senior level. Even if she was behind the likes of Kim Mestdagh on the wing at FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017, she showed enough to be considered as a big reason for Belgium winning their first ever podium step at the event. She can now also push Mestdagh even harder for court time. I love her balanced approach. She is defensively sound, well-disciplined and gets those all-important fundamentals right. The current EuroLeague Women season has been tremendous personally for her. Big displays against Kursk and Prague are two examples of her showing she can also put points on the board. You have to love her shot selection and the fact she doesn't need to be a volume shooter to score. I am pleasantly surprised she has made this major breakthrough in 2017 and thrilled for her.
Alena Hanusova [Czech Republic and ZVVZ USK Prague]
While Hanusova is a little older and more experienced than the others, I still think 2017 was a year when I saw her in a new light. I have always been left exhilarated by her running of the floor, her athleticism and ability to knock down a big shot from range. But it always seemed previously that she lived in the shadow of the top trio of her national team or club side. Now she is firmly one of the major stars in her own right and especially for Czech Republic. With a mass exodus of experienced players on the international stage, Hanusova stepped into the gap and was one player who did herself justice by showing heart and talent during her country's failed bid on home soil at FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017. It's a pity that she is also injured and has been sat on the sidelines for Prague in these past weeks. We need her back on court soon and as I love to watch her play and have enjoyed her continual evolution!
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.
FIBA takes no responsibility and gives no guarantees, warranties or representations, implied or otherwise, for the content or accuracy of the content and opinion expressed in the above article.
