Italy announce a wide and varied cast

ROME (FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017) – The alluring possibility of stepping out at FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017 in Italy national team colors has been handed to 23 players.

The Italian Federation and head coach Andrea Capobianco have given themselves plenty of choice for next month’s Final Round, with the only certainty that the team will be led by their great veteran duo of Laura Macchi and Raffaella Masciadri.

Italy 23-player squad for FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017

Martina Bestagno	Debora Carangelo	Sabrina Cinili	Chiara Consolini
Martina Crippa	Valeria De Pretto	Francesca Dotto	Marcella Filippi
Alessandra Formica	Andre Olbis Futo	Giulia Gatti	Gaia Gorini
Martina Kacerik	Laura Macchi	Raffaella Masciadri	Elisa Penna
Kathrin Ress	Martina Sandri	Giorgia Sottana	Laura Spreafico
Marzia Tagliamento	Federica Tognalini	Cecilia Zandalasini

Both are expected to hang up their national team shoes after the curtain falls on the tournament.

At the other end of the spectrum, there is a real buzz about the pending debut of the highly exciting Cecilia Zanadalsini. She was focusing on her studies during the last edition of FIBA EuroBasket Women two years ago and has since enhanced her reputation as one of the Continent's most talented young guns. She was crowned MVP last summer in her final youth tournament at the FIBA U20 Women’s European Championship.

There will also be a spring in the footsteps of newly crowned Italian Champions such as Martina Crippa and Francesca Dotto - although players from both Gesam Gas Lucca and Beretta Famila Schio will join later next week and not link up with the rest of the squad on Sunday.

Italy have confirmed they will play Belgium, Hungary and Russia in a tournament between May 26 and 28, as well as a double-header with Greece on 2 and 3 June – followed by a tournament in France against the hosts and Spain on 9 and 10 June.

FIBA