Players to watch out for in inaugural AWBL

 

ALEXANDRIA (Egypt) - The inaugural FIBA Africa Women's Basketball League (AWBL) feature 10 clubs from all corners of the continent of Africa with a number of A-Lister players to look out for when the action gets under way on Monday, December 11.

The AWBL showpiece will run until Tuesday, December 19 in the Egyptian city of Alexandria.

In no particular order, FIBA.basketball picked a few players that can run the show in Alexandria. 

Hagar Amer (Alexandria Sporting Club)  

The Egyptian international was named MVP of the last FIBA Africa Champions Cup for Women in Mozambique, having guided Alexandria to a historic 65-58 win over Costa do Sol in the Final. 

Throughout ASC's six games, Amer, an 1.86m (6ft 1in) forward/center, averaged 15.3 points, 8.2 rebounds in 30.9 minutes per game. 

She will be crucial again for the hosts as they look to retain the title in their backyard.

Italee Lucas (InterClube de Angola) 

The 34-year-old Angolan/American guard is a two-time MVP of the Africa Champions Cup for Women (the predecessor club competition to AWBL). 

The former WNBA star is expected to lead Angolan champions InterClube in their charge for the title. In the last Cup edition last year, she was instrumental in making her side reaches the Last Four but couldn't manage a podium finish. 

Yacine Diop (Alexandria Sporting Club) 

One of the most talented point guards on the continent, Diop will be making her African Club competition debut with the Egyptian side. 

Alexandria signed the Senegalese player alongside compatriot Fatou Diagne as the Alexandria-based side look to claim the title in the inaugural AWBL. 

Cierra Dillard (Alexandria Sporting Club)

The USA/Senegal guard is making a return to ASC after guiding them to the 2022 Cup title with a championship match-high of 21 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists and one steal. 

She was part of the Senegalese national team that fell to Nigeria in the final of the 2023 Women's AfroBasket played on 28 July to 5 August in Kigali, Rwanda. 

The 27-year-old was third on the points-per-game list, averaging 20.7 for the national team and second on assist with a 5.5 average, leading the efficiency charts for the tournament with 21.5. She made the Team of The Tournament that was headlined by MVP Amy Okonkwo. 

Victoria Reynolds (KPA )

The American-born Kenyan was part of Kenya Ports Authority's team that dominated the Zone 5 qualifiers to finish top and book a place in the inaugural AWBL.

She was named the tournament's MVP and was joined in the Team of the Tournament list by teammate Madina Okot, Kamba Diakite who played for Galdiators, Betty Kalanga from REG and Tetero Odille of APR. 

The Kenyan side, chasing a maiden podium on the international stage, will rely on the utility player to push their agenda against some of the best players in the continent. 

Tiffany Mitchell (REG) 

The American WNBA star with Minnesota Lynx adds to Rwanda Energy Group (REG) depth and skillset. She joins the Zone 5 silver medalists alongside Nia Clouden who features for the Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA.

 

She is an experienced player who previously had stints at international leagues in Russia, Turkey, Israel and Australia and will now make her debut in the African club competition. 

FIBA