Six backcourt and wing stars to watch at the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup

DEBRECEN (Hungary) - There will be plenty of talented guard and wing play to enjoy at the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup when the action gets underway.

Here are just some of the backcourt and wing stars from around the globe who will be worth putting on your watchlist.

All players are subject to the following players being available and selected by their respective Federations.

Reka Dombai - Hungary

This is likely to be a third global outing for Dombai as she played at the last edition of the tournament in Bangkok as well as starring in the  U17 Women's Basketball World Cup 2018 in Minsk. With Hungary as hosts, there could be a big onus on Dombai to lead their bid to a deep run. She can do so because of her scoring ability from the backcourt. She is deceptively quick and has now done it in EuroCup Women with Uni Gyor so is used to producing against bonafide senior level pros.

Ilaria Panzera - Italy

Panzera is a hugely talented young baller who was on the radar way before her years, playing at multiple youth events against players older than her. With a real flair and someone who can score and create, her maturity is underlined by the fact she was handed almost 30 minutes per game in the highly-rated Italian League with Sesto San Giovanni last year. She fired her country to gold at the FIBA U18 Women's European Championship two years ago and previously featured at the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup.

Jade Melbourne - Australia

While Australia will be keen to utilize a strong team ethic in pursuit of repeating their run to the Final of the competition two years ago, they will need players to step up in crunch time and that responsibility could fall to Melbourne. The guard played in the WNBL last season with the Canberra Capitals and shot the ball really well, making more than 50 percent from the field. She also handed out two assists per outing and looked after the ball well too. Watch out for her ability to get to the hoop and she can fill the highlights reel.

Milagros Maza - Argentina

There is huge excitement at the potential of Maza and that has been recognized by Spanish side Club Sant Josep, who have signed the teenager for the 2021-22 season. With really nice handles and an ability to kill teams from the wing behind her three-point shooting, she will be a driving force for Argentina. She is also long and athletic, meaning she will be important at the defensive end as well. 

Pauline Astier - France

 

The guard's quality can be measured by the fact that she was one of the candidates for the EuroLeague Women Player of the Year last season, although that accolade was ultimately snapped up by her Bourges Basket teammate Iliana Rupert. The skills of Astier are undoubted and she will be pushing for a place with the senior team soon. In terms of her national team  youth career, she has not featured regularly but could be capable of some highly productive performances for France as she makes her global youth debut.

Azzi Fudd - USA

 
Fudd was super at the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup in 2018 and won gold before she sustained a terrible knee injury which ultimately prevented participation at the last edition of the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup in Bangkok the following year. While USA won the title in Thailand, they missed her scoring touch - even though she would have been the youngest on the roster. Now the UConn guard will get the chance to make up for lost time and show why she is surely destined to one day make the transition to the senior USA team.

FIBA