ESP – Spain women get Lyttle!

MADRID (2010 FIBA World Championship) - Spain sent shockwaves across the international women’s basketball landscape on Wednesday by announcing that Liga Femenina MVP Sancho Lyttle has become a citizen of the country and will play for the national team.

Lyttle, who grew up in St Vincent, the West Indies, and played college basketball in America at Houston, has dominated in Europe the past two seasons and is currently in the WNBA with the Atlanta Dream.

Jose Hernandez, the Spain coach, said: "The MVP of the Liga Femenina, an All-Star in the WNBA, her physical strength makes her a crucial player in all the competitions she takes part in.

“Her capacity to score and to rebound will be of great help for our national team.”

After shining for Ibiza in 2008-09, the 6ft 4in forward moved to Halcon Avenida and instantly became one of the leading players in the EuroLeague Women.

Lyttle ranked first in the EuroLeague in double-doubles with 10 and averaged 17.9 points and 10.8 rebounds per game as Avenida made it to the Quarter-Finals before falling to Ros Casares.

Spain’s biggest weakness over the years has been their lack of low post players and Lyttle should give them plenty of pop when they travel to the FIBA World Championship for Women in the Czech Republic to play against Brazil, Korea and Mali in Group C.

That tournament tips off in September.

Lyttle is averaging 14.2 points and 10.6 rebounds per game for the Atlanta Dream.

Spain have also welcomed back Marta Fernandez into their 16-strong preliminary squad.

Fernandez, 28, hasn’t been with Spain since the 2006 FIBA World Championship for Women.

The sister of Spain men’s star Rudy Fernandez, Marta helped her country capture bronze medals at the EuroBasket Women 2003 and EuroBasket Women 2005.

"She joins having had a great season in Poland,” said Hernandez, who coached the player at Wisla Can-Pack Krakow.

“Her speed and intensity are complemented by her improvement and the maturity of her play."

Hernandez has also brought back Nuria Martinez, who will be a teammate of Fernandez at Ros Casares in 2010-11.

Martinez was hurt and couldn’t play at the EuroBasket Women in Latvia last year.

"She has character and intensity in play,” Hernandez said.

“She’s one of the best defenders we have and joins us having enjoyed a great season in Italy."

This is the first summer that Hernandez is at the helm of Spain’s senior team.

He has been a big hit as a coach of youth teams.

Point guard Elisa Aguilar remains captain of the squad.

It remains to be seen which players will make the final roster because competition for places is as fierce as it’s ever been for the team that is fifth in the FIBA World Rankings for Women.

Spain squad: Elisa Aguilar, Laia Palau, Silvia Dominguez, Nuria Martinez, Marta Fernandez, Anna Cruz, Blanca Marcos, Amaya Valdemoro, Alba Torrens, Maria Pina, Anna Montanana, Laura Nicholls, Cindy Lima, Lucila Pascua, Sancho Lyttle y Laura Herrera.

FIBA