MADRID (Spain) - There will so much talent to soak up and enjoy after the first ball gets thrown up at the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup 2023 in Madrid, but who are the top 20 must watch ballers?

Attempting the impossible to somehow squeeze all those amazing young athletes into one watch-list - and also in some kind of order, here's the Player Power Rankings.

Choosing no more than 3 players from any single nation in the overall top 20 and covering amazing talent in all FIBA regions, here's the first installment as we cover spots 20-11.

20. Maimouna Haidara - Mali

Haidara was not only crowned MVP of the FIBA U18 African Women's Championship last year, she impressed so much that she was taken to Sydney for the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 where she appeared at a first senior global tournament. She has also featured at the FIBA Women's AfroBasket previously and is likely to play her second edition when the action ends in Madrid. This will be her second #FIBAU19 appearance and she will provide her usual do-it-all display.

19. Ana Paula de Oliveira - Brazil

De Oliveira impressed at the FIBA U18 Women's Americas Championship 2022 where she made the All-Star Five. Having helped punch a ticket to Madrid, she gained recognition for11.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. With her intense competitiveness as well, it's a great mix and she is likely to be her team's leader in the Spanish capital. In her first global competition at any level, it will be interesting to see if she can get herself onto the senior Brazil team radar with another eye-catching contribution. 

18. Jana Elalfy - Egypt

It's not the first time fans have been able to enjoy the towering Elalfy on this kind of platform since she excelled for Egypt last year at the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup, finishing as the third top scorer and second best rebounder in the whole competition. She was also an All-Star Five member at the FIBA U18 African Women's Championship 2022 coming up with her usual big numbers. Now she will be out to impress again and it's only a matter of time before she is asked to step out at the FIBA AfroBasket Women.

17. Yu Wen Hsiao - Chinese Taipei

Eyebrows were raised in a good way when Hsiao stepped out at the FIBA U18 Women's Asian Championship 2022 in India. Famed for the quickness of their guards and long distance shooting, here was a baller that could add a new dimension for her country. The center soared into the All-Star Five in a historical best ever display for a Chinese Taipei player. She was the leading tournament scorer with 19.2 points per game and also rebounder with 13.5 rebounds per game in what was a breathtaking double-double display.

16. Chinami Yokoyama - Japan 

Yokoyama did a great job for Japan last year at the FIBA U18 Women's Asian Championship 2022 and gained deserved All-Star Five recognition after her strong contributions. She led her country in scoring with 13.2 points per game, also in assists with 5.4 per outing and in steals with 2.8 steals per game. The fact that she also pulled down 5.4 rebounds as well for her side underlines her work ethic and willingness to do the dirty work as well as turn up the dial in style when passing the rock.

15. Dominika Paurova - Czech Republic

Paurova comes into the competition having already made people take notice of her skills after a FIBA Women's EuroBasket debut in Tel Aviv and Ljubljana last month. She was part of a Czech Republic team that won the hearts of fans everywhere with their brave run to the Quarter-Finals and only just missing out on the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments. This is her second #FIBAU19 outing and she showed what she could do at the last edition with an excellent 16 points and 8 rebounds per game. 

14. Li Wenxia - China

Having made the All-Star Five lineup at the FIBA U18 Women's Asian Championship 2022 , all eyes will be on Wenxia to see if she can replicate that red-hot form. She was China’s leading scorer throughout the competition, finishing with the third-best scoring average in the whole tournament with 15.2 points per game. She was also solid on the boards with 6.8 rebounds per outing. Another young talent on the conveyor belt that China has had in recent years, it will be interesting to see how she measures up on the global stage.

13. Nyadiew Puoch - Australia

Puoch was called up to the squad for the FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2023 recently but Australia decided she was better to focus solely on preparation for this tournament in Madrid. Having stood out impressively at the event two years ago with a nice contribution of more than 11 points and 5 board per game, she will be looking to have an even bigger impact in the paint this time around. With a hugely encouraging full WNBL pro league season to her name, she will really have that harder nosed edge for 2023!

12.  Isla Juffermans - Australia

Yes, the Gems frontcourt has a one-two punch and it has been Juffermans who has been recognized multiple times for her work in the gold and green. MVP at the FIBA U18 Women's Asian Championship 2022 , that came off the back of winning the same accolade at the FIBA U16 Women's Asian Championship earlier in the year. In fact it was a busy time for the center who also impressed at the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup by posting a tournament double-double.

11.  Elena Buenavida - Spain

Already established as a class act, not least because of the job she has done with Valencia in EuroLeague Women. Buenavida is attending her second #FIBAU19 and will pull the strings as usual for her country having played at four previous FIBA tournaments already. Her growth as a player has been significant with her recent experiences in the professional game and she will be a major offensive contributor for her country, but is also a smart defender too. 

Next time we will bring you the Player Power Rankings Top 10!

*The player power rankings are entirely subjective and are in no way a true and accurate ranking system. All comments are purely those of the author for the entertainment of the fans.

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