Cecilia Zandalasini Leads Italy to Historic World Cup 2026

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Cecilia Zandelazzini Powers Italy to Historic Basketball Achievements

Last year, Cecilia Zandelazzini was instrumental in driving Italy to its first FIBA Women's EuroBasket medal in three decades. Continuing her exceptional form, she recently played a pivotal role in securing Italy's first World Cup appearance since 1994. In a memorable performance, she showcased her skills by averaging 14 points per game at the qualifying tournament in San Juan. Her standout moment came during an upset victory over Spain, where she scored 22 points, guaranteeing Italy a spot at the upcoming World Cup in Berlin this September.

Her contributions were not just limited to scoring; Zandelazzini's overall play has been a critical element of Italy's success. This was evident from her performances last year at EuroBasket, where she hit a game-winning basket in overtime against Turkey and led her team past France in the bronze medal game, marking Italy's best finish since 1995.

Zandelazzini was supported by a strong team including Francesca Panza, playmaker Costanza Verona, and center Lorela Cubaj. Together, they helped Italy finish the tournament with a strong 4-1 record, building on the momentum from their EuroBasket run. The early stages of the tournament held in Bologna were particularly special, playing in front of a supportive home crowd and achieving a 3-0 start that set the tone for Italy's historic performance.

Zandelazzini has also been promoting basketball in Italy by playing with Famalacio, contributing to their Lega Basket Femini title win before returning to the United States for her fifth WNBA season with the Golden State Valkyries. As the World Cup approaches, she will once again represent Italy, beginning their campaign in Berlin against Czechia and facing formidable opponents like the reigning champions United States and the 2022 silver medalists China.

With a challenging group ahead, Italy, under Zandelazzini's leadership, looks poised to continue their upward trajectory in international basketball, building on their recent successes and potentially setting the stage for more historic achievements.