ASUNCIÓN (Paraguay) – The next generation of South American basketball talent is ready to take the spotlight at the FIBA U17 South American Women’s Championship 2025, which will take place from October 20 to 26 at the Arena UENO COP in Asunción, Paraguay. Several players arrive with the label of future stars and the mission to guide their national teams toward one of the three available spots at the FIBA U18 Women’s AmeriCup 2026. Here’s a look at five players expected to shine in this year’s tournament:
Francisca Canello – Argentina
Date of birth: February 24, 2009 Height: 182 cm / 6'0" Position: Center She has been a standout leader in Argentina’s youth ranks. She will be playing in her fifth international tournament at just 16 years old a testament to her consistency and leadership. She has already competed at both the FIBA U17 (2024) and U19 (2025) World Cups. Canello enters this event with plenty of experience, making her one of the players to watch. At the U15 South American Championship in 2024, she averaged 15.6 points and 8.6 rebounds, leading her team to a third-place finish, while in the 2025 U16 AmeriCup she contributed 8.8 points and 8.7 rebounds, helping Argentina secure fifth place.
Micaela Cavalcanti – Brazil
Date of birth: April 5, 2008 Height: 164 cm / 5'5" Position: Point guard The floor general already boasts impressive experience for her age and even made her senior national team debut during the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 Pre-Qualifying Tournament. She has represented Brazil in nearly every age group: the U15 (2022) and U17 (2023) South American Championships, the U16 (2023) and U18 (2024) AmeriCups, and the U19 World Cup (2025). Cavalcanti joins this roster as a key reinforcement for a Brazilian side that finished fourth at the 2024 U15 South American Championship and missed the 2025 U16 AmeriCup. Her presence alone raises the team’s ceiling. Brazil also enters this competition as the defending champion in the category.
Keren Bertel – Colombia
Date of birth: October 15, 2009 Height: 174 cm / 5'9" Position: Power forward One of the cornerstones of the Colombian squad, Bertel helped her team secure fourth place at this year’s U16 AmeriCup, earning a berth to the FIBA U17 Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026. Although her individual numbers there were modest (7.3 points and 2.5 rebounds per game), expectations are high for her to bounce back in Paraguay. At the 2024 U15 South American Championship, she averaged 17.4 points per game, showing her scoring ability and importance to the team’s system. Colombia enters the tournament as a strong title contender, and Bertel will be central to their ambitions.
Mara López – Ecuador
Date of birth: January 8, 2009 Height: 170 cm / 5'7" Position: Point guard Even though Ecuador did not advance to the U16 AmeriCup, López emerged as one of the top performers at the 2024 U15 South American Championship, finishing as the second-leading scorer of the competition. She averaged 18.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game, standing out for her versatility and composure. Ecuador will look to surprise in this year’s event, and López is once again expected to be the team’s leader on both ends of the floor.
Albanys Ramírez – Venezuela
Date of birth: June 7, 2009 Height: 174 cm / 5'9" Position: Power forward Ramírez was named MVP of the 2024 U15 South American Championship, leading Venezuela to the title on home soil. She posted 18.8 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, showcasing her dominance in the paint and consistency under pressure. While her production dipped a bit at the U16 AmeriCup (10.5 points per game), she remains one of the team’s main weapons as Venezuela aims to return to the next continental tournament. With Ramírez in good form, her leadership and scoring abilities will be key to their success.
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