Sixteen Players Invited to GB Senior Women’s Camp

Senior Women’s Head Coach, Jose Maria Buceta has invited sixteen players into a preparation camp ahead of next month’s pivotal EuroBasket Women 2017 qualifying window.

As the quest continues to seal a fantastic fourth straight appearance at Final Round, GB will play consecutive home games against Group C rivals Albania and Montenegro on Saturday 20 and Wednesday 24 February.

Tipping off at 7pm on both nights, GB will play at the National Basketball Centre, at Belle Vue Sports Village in Manchester.

There is a welcome return to the fold for GB’s most capped player in Stef Collins, who missed out with an injury during the previous qualifying window last November, when the team suffered hard-fought losses against Montenegro and Italy.

Point guard Nicole How is also looking to force her way back into the reckoning. Having helped the team punch a ticket for EuroBasket Women 2015, she was then dealt an unlucky blow on the eve of Final Round last summer when she sustained a concussion in a preparation game.

There is also a first ever senior call-up for Brixton Topcats and England U18 rising star Kyla Nelson, who follows in the footstep of other teenage WBBL (Women’s British Basketball League) young guns such as Savannah Wilkinson and Eleanor Jones, who are both included again.

WBBL Trophy Final MVP Helen Naylor is back on board – as are a number of experienced Olympians such as Azania Stewart, Chantelle Handy, Rachel Vanderwal and Jo Leedham, who continues to compete at the very highest level with Tango Bourges in EuroLeague Women.

“I am looking forward to seeing the players again and working with them, because there were so many positives from the last window – even if we didn’t quite get the wins,” said Coach Buceta.

“I remain very proud of the effort and application of the players, because in both games, we had the opportunity to take victory and especially in the one against Italy.

“Now we are looking forward and we have to take things step by step – even if we will be big favourites in the first of these next two games against Albania.

“We have to show them respect and must be prepared if we want to get even more confidence by taking a first win into the following game with Montenegro.

“We know Montenegro will possibly be a decisive game and they are a very high quality opponent – but if we build on what we did in our last two games, then I think we have the launch-pad for success.

“It is important we also remember that we are a good team and we have good players, who will be doing everything they can to get two wins in this window.

“Like the last home game when we played against Italy in Manchester – the noise and support of the fans could be very important to help the players and that is why it would be fantastic if we could get two big crowds for these games,” added the play-caller.

The players invited to camp are as follows:

Dominique Allen (Chemcats Chemnitz, GER)
Mollie Campbell (Leicester Riders, GBR)
Ella Clark (Gernika Bizkaia, ESP)
Stef Collins (Cardiff Met Archers, GBR)
Chantelle Handy (PINKK Pesci 424, HUN)
Nicole How (Sydney Uni Flames, AUS)
Eleanor Jones (Leicester Riders, GBR)
Georgia Jones (Leicester Riders, GBR)
Jo Leedham (Tango Bourges, FRA)
Helen Naylor (Westfield Health Sheffield Hatters, GBR)
Kyla Nelson (Brixton Topcats, GBR)
Eilidh Simpson (CD Zamarat, ESP)
Azania Stewart (Campus Promete, ESP)
Jamila Thompson (Cref Hola, ESP)
Rachael Vanderwal (Gernika Bizkaia, ESP)
Savannah Wilkinson (Barking Abbey Crusaders, GBR)

The players will arrive at their Manchester based camp on Sunday 14 February.