She's just 17 and her whole career is ahead of her. However, Daniela González is already one of the most outstanding players of Colombia’s national team. The 5’9” center embodies the aggressiveness and the confidence she portrays in the court but is shy when it's time to talk. González is coming from being a fundamental piece in obtaining the South American U-17 title in Barranquilla, where she was named the MVP. “It had been 8 years since Colombia hadn’t accomplished the championship title in that category, so we enjoyed that a lot. The individual prize for the best player is something nice, but the most important thing was the team’s achievement.” Daniela González had no time to enjoy the celebrations because the urgency of the Colombian squad called her to the senior national team. “It’s a great satisfaction because I can represent my country not only in my category but also with the national team. I feel better with my teammates here in Bahia Blanca than with those in my category. This is a very united team and there’s a lot of harmony. They all welcomed me and included me in the group,” said González.

Her relationship with basketball wasn't of her own choosing. She was inclined toward another sport but received a piece of advice that made her change her mind: “When I was younger, I wanted to play volleyball, but when I turned 10, I was a little bit overweight. So, they advised me to get into basketball to lose some weight and later, if I wanted to, I could go back to practice volleyball. But as time went on, I started to like basketball more, I didn’t want to leave, and I'm still here.”

Besides her coaches and trainers, the young center gives special attention to her father’s advice. Luis Fernando González played soccer at Once Caldas and shares with his daughter the experiences he lived in the sports world. “My dad is my guide. I would like to follow in his footsteps. He’s always paying attention to my games and comments what he sees in my performance,” González says.

She plays at Liga del Valle and represents Nativos Basketball Club of the municipality of Jamundí, in the region of Cauca Valley. That's where she started to practice basketball. When there are no competitions, she trains on her own and with the national team. At the same time, she continues to study, although the constant activities with the Colombian national teams have forced her to miss class several times: “I was in the eleventh grade, in secondary school, but with all the tournament's I've had I couldn't go to school, so I think I'm not passing this year.”

González now wants her next steps in basketball to take her to the United States. There she has already participated in NBA camps to scout young talents. “It was a great experience because I spent time from people from other countries, learning a lot. I've been offered several scholarships, but I want to analyze them to choose the best option. I would like to study and play in the United States and then have the chance to be a WNBA professional.”

However, basketball isn't the only thing that Daniela González looks forward to. There’s another profession that draws her ever since she was little: “When I grow up, I want to be a police officer. It’s always been my dream. Most of my family on my father’s side have been police officers, but apart from that it's something that I've always liked.”

As she tries to decide her future plans, she’s currently in the Olympic Pre-Qualifiers, to which Colombia secured their participation after defeating Argentina at the tournament’s start. But aside from the results, González already considers it to be a great honor to compete here and have the chance to play against American players that are her role models: “I'm excited to have the opportunity of facing the USA team, with so many world and Olympic champions. That game is very important to learn and see how their game level is. Especially being able to play against Diana Taurasi, whom I admire because she has it all. She’s a machine. I would also like to meet is Elena Delle Donne, who didn't come.”

Women’s basketball in Colombia is moving forward and its growth doesn’t stop. There is a group of young players whose development is cause for hope. González shares her experience: “There’s a very good development. We don't receive as much support as we should but, anyway, we don’t care, we need to keep progressing.”

Daniela González looks to the future. At her level, she has a great panorama of her future. She dreams and aspires to achieve everything she’s setting her mind to. And she will.

Pablo Cormick
FIBA