2019 Class of FIBA Hall of Fame: Janeth Arcain
MIES (Switzerland) - The extraordinary talent and playing career of Brazilian Janeth Arcain is being honored with her induction to the 2019 Class of FIBA Hall of Fame.
MIES (Switzerland) - The extraordinarily talented Brazilian shooting guard and small forward Janeth Arcain is being inducted into the 2019 class of the FIBA Hall of Fame.
Arcain is among eight former players being enshrined into the Hall of Fame alongside, Margo Dydek (Poland - posthumously), Atanas Golomeev (Bulgaria), Alonzo Mourning (United States), Fabricio Oberto (Argentina), Jose "Piculin" Ortiz (Puerto Rico), Mohsen Medhat Warda (Egypt) and Jiri Zidek (Czech Republic). Joining them are coaches Natalia Hejkova (Slovak Republic), Bogdan Tanjevic (Montenegro) and Mou Zuoyun (China - posthumously). They were selected from a list of more than 150 candidates.
The Sao Paulo native is a legend in her homeland after a string of extraordinary accomplishments for her country. She is a quadruple Olympian and participated in a staggering five editions of the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup.
In addition to her eye-catching longevity at the highest level of the sport, she also racked up unprecedented success with Brazil during halcyon days that have not been repeated since.
Arcain was a driving force in Brazil's finest hour when they won the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in 1994, pouring in over 23 points per game in Australia and leading the championship in rebounding.
Two years later, Arcain was instrumental in taking Brazil to what remains to date, their only ever appearance in an Olympic Final. Their silver medal was then followed by a bronze at the 2000 Olympic Games in Athens. Also crowned a winner at the Pan-American Games, it wasn't only with a Brazil jersey that Arcain showed her amazing skills.
She was a four-time WNBA champion, managing to win each ring consecutively between 1997-2000 with the storied Houston Comets franchise, when she was at the peak of her powers.
Arcain was one of the original players selected to play in the WNBA's inaugural season and her brilliance and consistency witnessed her compete in the first seven seasons of the competition. Her best campaign was during 2001, when she averaged 18.5 points and made the All-WNBA team, as well as playing in the All-Star Game.
She was also unstoppable in her domestic league, taking the Brazilian MVP honor three times and topping the scoring charts four times.
| Name | Janeth Arcain |
| Category of Inductee | Player (Small Forward) |
| Date of birth | April 11, 1969 |
| Place of birth | Sao Paulo, Brazil |
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Height | 1.80 m – 5 ft 11 in |
| Clubs | Higienópolis (1983) Cica/Divino/Jundiaí (1989) Leite Moça/Sorocaba (1992) Arcor/Santo André Vasco da Gama São Paulo/Guaru Unimed/Ourinhos Ros Casares Valencia (1997-2006) [/unordered] |
| Club highlights | Four time WNBA champion (1997,1998,1999,2000) Four-time top scorer in Brazilian League (LBF) (1998, 2000, 2001, 2002) [/unordered] |
| National Team highlights | Pan American Games silver medalist (1987) Two-time FIBA Americas Championship for Women silver medalist (1989, 1993) Participated in FIBA World Championship for Junior Women (1989) Four-time South American Championship for Women gold medalist (1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1999) Participated in 5 FIBA World Championship for Women (1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006) Pan American Games gold medalist (1991) Participated in 4 Olympic Games (1992, 1996, 2000, 2004) FIBA World Championship for Women gold medalist (1994) Olympic silver medalist (1996) Olympic bronze medalist (2000) FIBA Diamond Ball Tournament for Women bronze medalist (2004) [/unordered] |
| Individual highlights | Three-time Brazilian League MVP (1999,2001,2002) WNBA All-Star (2001) All-WNBA First Team (2001) [/unordered] |
The 2019 Class will be enshrined into FIBA's Hall of Fame during a special ceremony taking place in Beijing, China, on August 30, on the eve of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 tipping off.
FIBA