Spain's conquering of #FIBAU20Europe: From Dominguez and Torrens to Ndour and Romero

KLATOVY (Czech Republic) - Spain head into the FIBA U20 Women's European Championship 2019 having won seven of the last eight editions.

You have to go all the way back to 2008 for the last time Spain were not contesting the Final when they missed out on the podium altogether.

An impressive list of names have starred in the event, and made the transition into the senior game; including those that triumphed in Belgrade earlier this summer to land the coveted FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2019 title.

Silvia Dominguez was MVP in 2007 after lifting her nation to their first title at the event and Alba Torrens - who missed out on the aforementioned EuroBasket success - took the top accolade two summers later, despite finishing on the second step of the podium.

They set the tone in establishing Spain among the elite contenders after making three Finals in four years, including successive defeats in 2009 and 2010 with Marta Xargay another current star to make an All-Star Five.

Since 2011, Spain have amassed an astonishing 62-4 win-loss record at the event with seven golds and a silver in a dominant eight-year stretch.

Here is a look back at a few of the standout performers during that span:

QUERALT CASAS

Casas helped the Spanish dominance begin as MVP during the 2011 edition after averaging 11.8 points along with 5.9 rebounds and 3.4 steals per game. Another title followed in 2012 with Casas leading her side with 17 points in the Final victory over Russia - making the All-Star Five once again, though the MVP award went to Ksenia Tikhonenko.

Now 26, Casas was a member of the recent gold-winning side at FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2019 - six years after being part of the  team that won the title in 2013. She is a regular in European competition since a teenager and returns to Spain with Valencia next season.

ASTOU NDOUR

Like Torrens, Ndour has now completed an MVP double in taking the top honor at U20 and senior level. The Dakar-born center averaged a near double-double with 17.3 points and 9.8 rebounds during Spain's flawless title run in 2013 and followed with a place in the All-Star Five in 2014 as they had to settle for silver.

Ndour was playing at FIBA Women's EuroBasket for the first time a year later, became an Olympic medalist and enjoyed her first taste of gold at senior level in Belgrade after leading Spain to victory as the MVP.

LETICIA ROMERO 

On home soil in 2015, Romero led Spain to the title as MVP in Lanzarote. The talented guard put up 12.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists including a 22-point haul in the Final. Romero had joined Ndour on the All-Star Five in 2014 as they missed out on the title to France.

Having already broken into the senior setup by playing at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2014 and winning the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2017 title, Romero has since missed out on the last two major events, whilst playing EuroLeague Women for the first time out of college.

LAURA QUEVEDO

Quevedo joined Romero in the All-Star Five in Lanzarote before securing another spot in the lineup 12 months later as Spain successfully defended their crown. The forward's all-round game was on display in Matosinhos with 10.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists although the MVP award went to Italian sensation Cecilia Zandalasini.

Quevedo made her senior debut in between U20 summers and went on to feature at the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

Next in line hoping to make a breakthrough into the senior side will be the competition's last two MVP winners in Maria Araujo (2017) and Iris Mbulito (2018) with the former having been part of the initial 17-player roster this summer.

Will Spain's dominance continue and if so, who's got next?

Check out our Players to Watch guide to see all the names to keep an eye on in Klatovy.

FIBA