MIES (Switzerland) – There are few, if any, people better placed to consider the evolution and growth of women's basketball than FIBA Hall of Fame member and legendary coach Natalia Hejkova.

To celebrate the rise and rise of women's basketball globally and the huge importance of women in basketball being one of FIBA's strategic priorities, we have asked an array of elite female playcaller to share their experiences and insights.

A five-time EuroLeague Women winner and, therefore, the competition's most successful in history, Hejkova is still at the helm of the Final Four and title chasing ZVVZ USK Praha. Very much a trailblazer at club level in Europe, her career has spanned more than three decades and has been peppered with a barrage of domestic and continental titles.

"I APPRECIATE A LOT THE GOOD FIBA PROGRAMS IN PLACE AND MENTORING OF FEMALE COACHES" - Hejkova

Looking back on how things have changed for the better, Hejkova underlined just how different things were when she started her amazing and successful journey with no other female coaching peers at the top level.

She explained: "In the beginning, when I started, I was the only female coach in Europe at the start of the modern era. 

"At that time, it was not usual that a woman was a coach at the higher level because usually they were left to coach only the kids. And that was normal since it often included their own kids, and it was seen as being family business.

"Plus, back then, it was not easy to work as a head coach in a big team and also take care of your own family.

Hejkova continues to coach EuroLeague Women championship hopefuls ZVVZ USK Praha and has five titles

"I also remember once when we were playing at a huge club, and they would usually shake hands with my team manager and not with me because they thought I was a therapist or someone else and not the head coach.

"But step by step, people started to accept me," continued Hejkova.

"Also, what is very interesting is that in the 1990s, it was usual to have a woman as a head coach in the United States in universities. So, these were my role models who all showed me that I could continue to work as a female head coach.

"But perhaps most importantly of all, General Managers of different clubs started to understand that it was not only for men, but it was possible women could not only coach kid's teams, but also coach high level teams."

Coach Hejkova is a mentor to other coaches as part of an important FIBA program

Hugely respected by her peers, Hejkova also coached internationally at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup and FIBA Women's EuroBasket at the helm of Slovak Republic and Russia, also landing an Olympic medal during her time spent as an Assistant. That wealth of experience is being put to good use for those fortunate enough to be able to now learn from her.

"I appreciate a lot the good FIBA programs in place and mentoring of female coaches," stated Hejkova.

"I was involved in this program and I have had coaches who were here with me at ZVVZ USK Praha for three or four days, watching all my steps before a EuroLeague Women's game. 

"They were participating in practices and meetings and I think this is the best way that coaches can improve during the season, since they had many questions before and after our games. This is a really good idea."

Coach Hejkova has been a playcaller for more than three decades and was a former player herself

Meanwhile, Hejkova was also a decorated player before she moved into coaching, managing to secure the Ronchetti Cup and the Czech Championship.

This adds even more credence to her trailblazing role since the current trend within the women's game is seeing many more former players not picking up the coaching reins - something Hejkova is pleased to see.

She said: "Many women coaches are successful because so many of them have played before and I think this experience is the best.

"They can understand how women will move in some situations and they can improve and take the best from the players. For me, it is a big advantage they have with this experience if they are coaching," she concluded.

Next in our series we will hear from Opals' Head Coach, Sandy Brondello. The previous feature with Serbia head coach Marina Maljkovic can be read here. 

FIBA