The #FIBAU19 All-Star Five ballers 2011 to 2021 - where are they now?

MADRID (Spain) - The FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup has been an important springboard for a wealth of talent, including those who have been crowned MVP and made the various All-Star Five lineups.

We look back on the last six editions, starting with 2011 and take you through who made the All-Star Five and what they have been up to since. Although in many cases, you will recognize some of the biggest ballers on the planet!

Debrecen, Hungary (2021)

MVP Caitlin Clark (USA), Sonia Citron (USA), Jade Melbourne (AUS), Sika Kone (MLI), Julia Boros (HUN)

- USA standout Clark took Iowa to the 2023 NCAA Championship Final and dropped 30 points to cap a phenomenal individual campaign. She won National Player of the Year honors after averaging an amazing 27.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 8.6 assists per outing.

- Citron has just posted another excellent season in the NCAA playing with Notre Dame, averaging almost 15 points per game.

- The highly-rated Melbourne won bronze at the FIBA Women's Asia Cup with the Opals in 2021 also. Now plays with Seattle in the WNBA.

- Hungary star Boros went on to excel as one of the leading scorers at the FIBA U20 Women's European Championship 2022 and has since played in EuroLeague Women with Atomeromu KSC Szekszard.

Bangkok, Thailand (2019)

MVP Paige Bueckers (USA), Rhyne Howard (USA), Lola Pendande (ESP), Alexandra Fowler (AUS), Billie Massey (BEL)

- USA guard Paige Bueckers excelled in 2021-22 at UConn as she helped them make the Championship Final but sadly the playmaker has spent the 2022-23 campaign recovering from ACL surgery last August.

- Rhyne Howard helped Beretta Famila Schio make history earlier this year as the Italian club reached a historic first ever EuroLeague Women Final Four. She is also a WNBA All-Star baller after impressing in her rookie 2022 season with the Atlanta Dream.

- Spanish forward Pendande is pushing for senior contention with the Spanish national team. She has just signed a first pro contract with Barcelona, having completed her NCAA career with the University of Miami having previously switched from the University of Utah.

- The towering Fowler has completed four NCAA seasons with the Unviersity of Portland where she has put up some super numbers.

- Massey has went on to play for Belgium at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 in Sydney and is currently competing with her country at the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2023. 

Udine, Italy (2017)

 MVP Maria Vadeeva (RUS), Raisa Musina (RUS), Laeticia Amihere (CAN), Chennedy Carter (USA), Tyasha Harris (USA)

- Powerhouse Vadeeva inspired Russia with some outstanding displays at senior level at the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2019 and 2021, also winning multiple EuroLeague Women titles with UMMC Ekaterinburg.

- Musina also played a leading role like her teammate for the Russia senior team at the FIBA Women's EuroBasket and also won EuroLeague Women titles with UMMC.

- The talented Amihere has now played with Canada at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup, the Olympics and the FIBA Women's Americup. Meanwhile playing with South Carolina, she won the NCAA Championship in 2022 and has also played WNBA.

- Carter has played professionally in Europe in the Turkish League and also in the WNBA where she was a universal choice for the All-Rookie Team when at the Atlanta Dream, She has since stepped out with the Los Angeles Sparks.

- After her College career with South Carolina, Harris has played professionally in both Turkey and Russia, as well as the WNBA.

Chekhov, Russia (2015)

MVP A’ja Wilson (USA), Napheesa Collier (USA), Maria Vadeeva (RUS), Daria Kolosovskaia (RUS), Alanna Smith (AUS)

- Wilson is the reigning FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup MVP after taking the award and another gold in Sydney last year. The forward is also an Olympic champion and a two-time WNBA winner considered as one of the best players on the planet.

- Collier went on to win gold at the FIBA Women's AmeriCup and at the Tokyo Olympics with USA. She was also an NCAA champion with UConn and a two-time WNBA All-Star at Minnesota Lynx where she is in her fifth consecutive season.

- Always a leader at youth level, Kolosovskaia never made the transition to regular senior team action with Russia. She continues to play professionally with Samara, having also represented the famous Sparta&K M.R. Vidnoje and also Enisey Krasnoyarsk.

- Australian forward Smith won silver at the FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2017 and at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2018. She also played at the Tokyo Olympics, has competed in Europe with Gorzow and is now playing for her third WNBA club, Chicago Sky.

Klaipeda, Lithuania (2013)

MVP Breanna Stewart (USA), Jamie Weisner (CAN), Olivia Epoupa (FRA), Astou Ndour (ESP), Steph Talbot (AUS)

- Stewart is already in contention as the women's basketball GOAT. She's won it all, plus various MVP awards too. Multiple FIBA Basketball World Cup, Olympic, EuroLeague Women and WNBA titles have all flowed. Now an iconic female hoops figure, she's currently playing with the New York Liberty, having departed Fenerbahce.

- Canadian guard Weisner (now Scott) played at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2018, various FIBA Women's AmeriCup events and professionally in the WNBA and Europe (Austria, Spain, Russia, France). She is currently on maternity leave from the sport.

- The electrifying French ace Epoupa has won four FIBA Women's EuroBasket silver medals, played at the Olympics in Rio and played club basketball in Australia, France,Turkey and Hungary where she spent most of last season with Sopron Basket.

- Ndour was crowned MVP at the FIBA Women's EuroBasket in 2019 having also won in 2017. The center made the All-Star Five at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in 2018, also playing in two Olympic Games. She has stood out playing in the WNBA, EuroCup Women and also helping Schio make EuroLeague Women history earlier this year.

- Aussie star Talbot is a two-time Olympian and won silver at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in 2018 and bronze last year. She's played in Europe in Poland and France, as well as in the WNBA and her homeland, spending last season with Adelaide Lightning.

Puerto Montt, Chile (2011)

MVP Damiris Dantas (BRA), Breanna Stewart (USA), Ariel Massengale (USA), Astou Ndour (ESP), Rui Machida (JPN)

- Dantas is now a double Olympian with the Brazil senior team, also playing at multiple FIBA Women's AmeriCup events and the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup. The forward has played many seasons in the WNBA with the Atlanta Dream and Minnesota Lynx 

- USA guard Massengale finished playing with the University of Tennessee and played a season professionally in Finland before opting to re-focus on a coaching career. She has been an Assistant in the NCAA at Lipscomb and is now at Southern Illinois.

- Machida famously starred for Japan on their historic run to the Olympic Final in Tokyo, setting a new record en-route with a single game 18 assists. She has won FIBA Women's Asia Cup trophies and also played in the WNBA.

FIBA