The years go by and the selections change. Spain is experiencing a true renewal, which has become more acute in the last year. Silvia Dominguezwho took over from Laia Palau as captain, decided to leave it in summer after missing the Paris Games due to injury and after the departure of the Perfumerías Avenida base, Other goodbyes have followed. First it was Laura Gil who announced that she was putting an end to her international career, and then it was her teammate and friend Queralt Casas, although in her case she prefers not to talk about retirement for now and has decided to take a break. Two other almost permanent ones these years have also not been in the November Window for other reasons: Cristina Ouviña is fully pregnant and Leo Rodríguez has put basketball on hold for the moment.
With this panorama, the National Team has arrived with many changes and with several representatives of the new baking of Spanish basketball. Only two players were over thirty and the oldest, Alba Torrens (35 years old), had 209 caps compared to the 289 accumulated by the other 14 players. “I have personally asked Alba to continue in this Window to help us teach those young women who arrive how to train and advance in achieving objectives with the National Team,” explained coach Miguel Méndez when giving the list. The other player with more than 30 is Mariona Ortiz (32).
The other side of the coin has been offered Iyana Martin and Awa Fam, both 18 and who were already in the Olympic preparation as guests. The two know each other well. From the same generation, that of 2006, they won the U-17 world silver in 2022 and another U-19 world silver last summer and also the European Under-16 (2022) and Under-18 (2024) silver medals. Separately, Iyana has a junior bronze in 2023 and Awa, a U-20 silver this summer, also being the MVP two years younger than her teammates. “Awa is like my sister. We have shared many experiences together. They have always taken both of us with categories higher than ours and that has united us,” says Iyana. “Since we were the youngest, we spent a lot of time together and We have known each other very well; That has made us great friends today.”adds Awa.
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The first time they met was in the U-13, although at that time they could not even imagine how close they would become. “We spoke very little, but I liked playing with her because she stood out in her category, although we practically did not speak until they began to promote us to the higher categories,” explains Iyana, who reveals that Awa is very present in her life. “At first she can impose on you, but she is a very good person, not selfish at all and she has shown me that whenever I need her she is there.” Compliments are reciprocal. “Iyana is a fundamental pillar in my life, because she is one of the people who knows me best, who supports me the most… Sometimes we say to ourselves ‘we won’t even separate ourselves,’ but in the end it’s appreciated.”
And from that U-13 National Team to the absolute one. “When they called me I was quite scared, so having Awa’s support was important. Not only was there someone I knew, but that someone is my age and knows what I’m going through, because he’s going through the same thing. It was a new thing for both of us and in the end it helped me a lot to have it there”Iyana clarifies. “I was very nervous,” Awa confesses. “Both of us, when we have confidence, let go, but at first it costs us a little. So, when I found out that she was also coming I thought ‘I’m going to have her support.’ That brought us together even more, we were together almost always.”
A good season at LF Endesa
Although the NCAA and its university offer is tempting, Both have decided to stay in Spanish basketball. Awa, from the Valencia Basket youth team, will spend this year on loan at Gernika while Iyana has arrived in Salamanca to reinforce a team with which she has already debuted in the Euroleague. In the six games that have been played so far, Awa averages 9.5 points and 6.3 rebounds for a PIR of 12.7 in almost 21 minutes on the court and Iyana, 7.5 points, 1.8 assists and 1.2 steals (7.8 rating credits) at 20:52 minutes. And in his first commitment with the National Team things have gone equally well.
If Fam was the best against the Netherlands (14 points and 10 rebounds), Iyana shone three days later against Croatia (12 points and 3/5 in triples). “These are opportunities that are coming to us, that are being given to us. It’s something we dreamed of since we were little and we are trying to make the most of it. On Thursday it was me, on Sunday Iyana and let’s see if there are many more games like this“, says Fam. “I never imagined that I could play a game like this with Spain. You play and whatever comes out. Some days you have seven minutes, others ten, others twenty, but every day you give one hundred percent,” adds Iyana, who recognizes that the preseason with Avenida has been very good for him. “It helped me know where I was, to get my act together, to grit my teeth. I got a shock of reality, because you go from Liga Femenina 2 to LF Endesa and the game is much faster, the people are professional, it becomes a job. “I still have a lot left, but I need that blow to be able to compete in the Euroleague and the Women’s League.”
Fam’s team, Gernika, has other aspirations. “We are a young, but competitive team. I hope we qualify for the Cup, for the playoff, but we have to go game by game. At the moment, there’s the half-half thing. But now we return with a new mentality and give it our all. I think we are a team that will all row together.”
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