Harding is the must-have floor general for Belarus

VALENCIA (Jeff Taylor's Eurovision) - Lindsey Harding is on the go. One day she's in Kursk, Russia, and the next in Houston, Texas.

Soon enough she'll be on the move again, headed to New York City. Come next month, she'll be somewhere else. Harding will be in Nantes, France, to help Belarus fight for a spot at the Rio de Janeiro Games.

There have been murmurs in Minsk that the point guard who played for Dynamo Kursk in Russia's top flight this season will be a no-show at the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament (WOQT), where Belarus are going to face Korea and Nigeria in Group C. The truth is, however, that the slick ball-handling playmaker will be behind the wheel of one of Europe's top teams for the second year in a row.

Without their naturalized player, Belarus have only a small chance of clinching a spot in Rio. With her? Anatoli Buyalski's team looks good bets to not only reach the Olympics for the second time in their history and first since 2008, when they also had to claim a spot at the WOQT in Madrid. They'll have a shot to reach the knockout round and maybe even challenge for a medal.

"2016 is my year," she told me this weekend. "That's what I'm telling myself. I signed to play for the WNBA New York Liberty to compete for a championship this summer and there is a possibility to play in the Olympics with Belarus."

It doesn't get any better than this. There is a lot of basketball and traveling on my plate but it is well worth it. You only live once. - Harding

A top-notch floor general is essential for all the teams at the WOQT that have designs on making it to the Olympics. The player that made that position famous in Belarus nearly a decade ago was Natallia Marchanka, an All-Star Five selection at the EuroBasket Women 2007 in Chieti, Italy.

Marchanka then pulled all the right strings the next year at the WOQT in Madrid as Belarus claimed one of five spots on offer for Beijing. Now, Harding has to be that player for Belarus. She excelled at the point at last summer's EuroBasket Women in Hungary and Romania.

In their vital 68-66 Quarter-Final triumph over Lithuania that earned Belarus a spot in the WOQT, Harding had 12 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists. She averaged 11.2ppg, 4.6rpg and 5.3apg.

"Being able to represent the country of Belarus was a great honor for me last summer," the 31-year-old said. "I was so excited to have the opportunity to play in the European Championships."

It's always an amazing feeling when you're playing for more than just yourself. Finishing in the top five was a great achievement but of course, we went there to win the gold. There is so much talent in Europe which made each game extremely competitive. It was a great experience which will prepare me and my team for the upcoming tournament in June. - Harding

It's easy to understand why Buyalski is allowing Harding to join the team late in their preparations, just as she did last year. Harding is an elite playmaker.

Lindsey Harding (BLR) played at EuroBasket Women 2015

In 2007, Harding was the Naismith College Player of the Year after her last season at Duke University. Harding then became the first pick of the WNBA Draft by Minnesota. She has played for several WNBA teams, including the Atlanta Dream in 2011-12. One of her teammates in Atlanta was Belarus center Yelena Leuchanka.

Why Harding for Belarus? She has experience and talent in abundance. She possesses the right attitude. Take, for example, her mindset when it comes to facing full-court pressure.

"The best way to beat pressure is to attack it," Harding said. And this is an area where Harding excels.

"I believe I do well with pressure because it makes you play fast and speed is an important part of my game. As much as possible, I try to handle most of the pressure myself. I am the point guard and it is my job to make sure I get the ball up the court. - Harding

The 1.73m 'coach on the floor' has a great relationship not only with Belarus linchpins Leuchanka and Katsiaryna Snytsina on the court, but also Buyalski. The two, she says, are on the same wavelength.

"Coach Buyalski has so much love and passion for the game which makes communication very easy for us to speak to him about anything," she said.

"You always want to be open and honest between coach and player. I personally appreciate him being patient and understanding as he has afforded me the opportunity to travel in and out between basketball seasons. We all have one goal, which is to make it to Rio."

Harding, who was once in the mix for a spot in the USA team but was not selected, still has a shot of realizing the Olympic dream. She is a great fit for Belarus, and Belarus need Harding.

That's why you're going to see her in the national team shirt in a month's time.

Jeff Taylor
FIBA

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