MIES (Switzerland) - The TISSOT MVP display of Iyana Martin Carrion on home soil at the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup 2023 was one of the all-time great performances in the competition and confirmed the status of a major rising star on the international stage.
The guard's electrifying effort right across the entire tournament in Madrid culminated in a raucous and record-breaking crowd of 7,000 fans in the Spanish capital uniting to chant "MVP! MVP! MVP!"!
It was louder than anything heard previously in the history of the competition and testament to their appreciation of a stellar talent.
While the Cinderella story wasn't quite written in full as Spain were ultimately outlasted 69-66 by USA in what proved to be another spectacular Final matchup, Martin Carrion was not going be denied the ultimate individual accolade.
She went to work in the title game and took it to the reigning champions in a big way - leading her team brilliantly with 19 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals.
Of course her spectacular show in Madrid wasn't Martin Carrion announcing her arrival on the global stage, since she had already put her name up in lights 12 months earlier. She showed out at the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup 2022, taking her country to a silver medal and making the All-Star Five lineup.
Meanwhile she had also bagged one MVP accolade earlier, by taking that crown at the FIBA U16 Women's EuroBasket 2022.
But what happened in Madrid at the U19 Worlds was something truly special - and a launch-pad for even greater things since. Off the back of her ever impressive contributions, Martin Carrion was elevated to the senior Spanish team and played a full and highly productive role in the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers.
The teenager is now set to not only make the roster for this year's showpiece FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025, but is likely to be one of the most exciting young guns on show and a major baller for her nation.
Not least after signing off on a phenomenal rookie season in EuroLeague Women with Perfumerias Avenida. She not only completed her first footsteps in the competition, but balled out. She received an eye-popping 27 minutes per game and repaid this in full, by finishing in her team's top three for efficiency, scoring, rebounding and assists.
Being handed the prestigious EuroLeague Women Young Player of the Year award for 2024-25 was a no-brainer.
Meanwhile looking further down the track, if Spain punch their ticket for the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 in Germany, we could get to see some Martin Carrion magic in the heart of Berlin next year.
And, what an enticing prospect that would be for any fan of women's hoops.
FIBA