MADRID (Spain) - Coaches and players at the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup 2023 in Madrid have been reacting to being part of the world premiere of the ground-breaking ASB GlassFloor.

Making its long-awaited debut at a FIBA event, the state-of-the-art surface has been exciting and intriguing for every member of the eight teams involved in Friday's Quarter-Finals. They were given the chance to practice and familiarize themselves with the unique floor on the eve of its official unveiling. 

Here's what some of them had to say, not only about the floor itself, but also about being given the opportunity to their part in part of FIBA history.

"IT'S QUITE A SPECIAL THING THAT FIBA DECIDED TO INAUGURATE THIS FLOOR AT A WOMEN'S EVENT AND WE'RE REALLY GRATEFUL AT FIRST I THOUGHT THE BALL WAS  GOING TO 'SLEEP' WHEN I BOUNCED IT, BUT IT'S GOOD."

- Elena Buenavida (ESP)

"IT WAS AN HONOR. JUST LIKE WHEN YOU RECEIVE A GIFT. BOUNCING THE BALL AND THE GRIP WAS LIKE ANY COURT. IT'S  AMAZING."

- Haru Owaki (JPN)

"SOMETHING REVOLUTIONARY? IT IS INDEED... THIS CAN BRING THE GAME TO ANOTHER LEVEL, MAKING AN EVEN BIGGER FAN EXPERIENCE."

- Mali head coach, Diakite Sory

"IT'S REALLY SPECIAL. NO ONE KNEW HOW IT WAS GOING TO BE. THERE ARE ALL THOSE COLORS. I NEVER EXPECTED ANYTHING LIKE THIS!"

- Joyce Edwards (USA)

"WE FEEL VERY PROUD TO BE THE CHOSEN ONES BY FIBA. I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE MORE LIKE GLASS BUT IT FEELS LIKE A CURRENT BASKETBALL COURT. IT'S REALLY COOL TO LIVE THIS EXPERIENCE!"

- Cassandre Prosper (CAN)

"IT'S AWESOME FIBA HAS THOUGHT OF THIS WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT TO PRESENT IT WORLDWIDE. BASKETBALL IS CHANGING. IT BRINGS A WHOLE NEW EXPERIENCE."

- France head coach, Julien Egloff

"I EXPECTED IT COULD BE SIMILAR  TO A USUAL COURT AND WE REALLY LIKED IT. I AM HAPPY THAT WE'RE THE ONES TRYING IT FIRST. IT'S SOMETHING TO TELL THE NEXT GENERATIONS ABOUT."

- Dominika Paurova (CZE)

"I MUST SAY THAT EVERYTHING FIBA DOES - IT PLEASES ME. I FEEL PROUD TO BE AMONG THE FIRST ONES TO BE PLAYING ON THIS COURT."

- Maimouna Haidara (MLI)

"IT'S REALLY BEAUTIFUL. WE TOOK VIDEOS, YOU COULD SEE THE EXCITEMENT. IT WAS WORTH THE WAIT. IT EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS. THIS NEW CONCEPT BRINGS BASKETBALL INTO A NEW ERA."

- USA coach, Joni Taylor

"THE GRIP IS JUST AS OTHER BASKETBALL COURTS… I THINK THIS COURT HAS MANY POSSIBILITIES TO SHOW MANY THINGS DURING THE TIMEOUTS AND MAKE THE GAME MORE ENTERTAINING FOR THE FANS... IT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE OF INNOVATION FOR THE FANS. IT'S GREAT PROGRESS FOR WOMEN'S BASKETBALL THAT THE NEW FLOOR IS BEING USED FOR THE FIRST TIME HERE."

- Anaelle Dutat (FRA)

"IT'S REALLY COOL AND ALSO WITH IT BEING IN THIS ARENA WITH SUCH A BIG CAPACITY. THE FLOOR IS SO QUIET - IT'S SATISFYING."

- Chloe Kitts (USA)

 
FIBA