The top 20 stars to play at the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup; Places 10-6

MADRID (Spain) - It's time for the third part of our countdown series as we reflect on the best players to have stepped out at the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup since it began back in 1985.

It's been a difficult job to put together the list of candidates with 40 years of action and so many amazing players to choose from. But having already selected spots 20-16, and also those in 15-11, now it's time to enter the top ten.

10. Jisu Park, Korea (2013 and 2015)

An absolute phenomenon even when she was a kid, Park played at #FIBAU19 for the first time in 2013 when she was just 14-years-old but managed to hold her own against players 4-5 years older than her. Returning in 2015, it was incredible to think that she had already led the Korea senior national team at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup a year earlier in Istanbul. Last year she reminded everyone of her brilliance with an epic triple-double in Belgrade during qualifying for the 2022 edition of the competition.

9. A'ja Wilson, USA (2015)

The roots of the forward rising to prominence on the global stage can be traced back to her amazing #FIBAU19 displays during 2015 in Chekhov, Russia. She took USA to gold, landing the MVP accolade as well after netting more than 18 points per game. Push the fast-forward button to the current day and Wilson is the reigning FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup MVP having lit up in Sydney last year for the champions. She was also outstanding as the USA rode their way to the top of the Olympic podium at Tokyo 2020.

8. Sonja Vasic, Serbia (2007)

Vasic took the floor during 2007 in Slovakia and it was a memorable experience as Serbia took a first ever medal with bronze - only losing the one game. The forward would then be at the center of Serbia's historic FIBA Women's EuroBasket title success in 2015, their stunning Olympic debut and bronze medal a year later. Vasic was then crowned MVP at the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2021. She retains a strong bond with #FIBAU19 , helping with the draw for this year's edition and reflecting fondly on her memories.

7. Alba Torrens, Spain (2007)

Another FIBA Women's EuroBasket MVP, Torrens was the heartbeat of Spain's unprecedented era of success, helping them to the Continental titles in 2013, 2017 and 2019, as well as a first ever FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup Final in 2014 and Olympic Final in 2016. The winger's global debut also came at #FIBAU19 in 2007 when it was Vasic and Serbia who caused heartache with that 52-50 success in the Third Place Game. Still competing today, Torrens is one of the most popular and respected female players ever.

6. Penny Taylor, Australia (1997)

Featuring at the 1997 edition of #FIBAU19 in 1997, Taylor was part of the team that reached the title game for the first time. In 2006, more history was made when the forward was the MVP of the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in Brazil as the Opals won the competition in what still remains their greatest basketball accomplishment. The fact that some 17 years after her youth outing Taylor was in the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup All-Star Five at the 2014 edition speaks volumes about the Aussie legend. 

FIBA