Cecilia Zandalasini facts for kids
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Zandalasini with the Minnesota Lynx in 2024
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| No. 24 – Galatasaray | |
|---|---|
| Small forward | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | 16 March 1996 Broni, Italy |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Listed weight | 175 lb (79 kg) |
| Career information | |
| Pro career | 2010–present |
| League | WNBA Turkish Super League EuroCup Women |
| Career history | |
| 2013–2014 | Geas Basket |
| 2014–2018 | PF Schio |
| 2017–2018 | Minnesota Lynx |
| 2018–2021 | Fenerbahçe |
| 2021–2024 | Virtus Bologna |
| 2024 | Minnesota Lynx |
| 2024–present | Galatasaray |
| 2025–present | Golden State Valkyries |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Cecilia Zandalasini (born on March 16, 1996) is a talented Italian basketball player. She plays for the Golden State Valkyries in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She also plays for Galatasaray in Turkey and is a key member of the Italian national team. Cecilia was even named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the 2016 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship for Women.
Contents
- Early Life and Youth Career
- Professional Basketball Journey
- Starting with Geas Basket (2013–14)
- Playing for PF Schio (2014–2018)
- Shining at EuroBasket (2017)
- Joining the Minnesota Lynx (2017–2018, 2024)
- Playing for Fenerbahçe (2018–2021)
- Time with Virtus Bologna (2021–2024)
- Moving to Galatasaray (2024–present)
- Joining the Golden State Valkyries (2025–present)
Early Life and Youth Career
Cecilia Zandalasini was born in Broni, Italy, on March 16, 1996. Her parents are Roberto Zandalasini and Paola Lombardi. When she played for a youth team called Geas Basket, she helped them win six Italian youth club championships. This showed her amazing basketball skills from a young age!
Professional Basketball Journey
Starting with Geas Basket (2013–14)
At just 17 years old, Cecilia began her professional career with Geas Basket in the 2013–14 season. She played as a guard and was a top scorer for her team. She scored a total of 314 points in 20 games, which means she averaged about 15.7 points per game.
Playing for PF Schio (2014–2018)
After her time with Geas Basket, Cecilia joined PF Schio in 2014. In her third season with the team (2016–17), they had a lot of success. They won the Coppa Italia and made it to the finals of the Serie A1 playoffs. She also helped her team reach the EuroLeague Women postseason, where she was their top scorer, averaging 13.5 points per game.
Shining at EuroBasket (2017)
Cecilia truly impressed everyone at the EuroBasket Women 2017 tournament. She averaged 19.0 points per game, which was the second-highest in the whole event. She also grabbed 9.6 rebounds per game, placing her third overall. Her amazing performance earned her a spot on the All-Tournament Team. Many experts called her debut at EuroBasket Women "the greatest... of all time."
Joining the Minnesota Lynx (2017–2018, 2024)
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The Minnesota Lynx, a team in the WNBA, signed Cecilia on August 28, 2017. This happened with only three games left in their 2017 regular season. Even though she played limited minutes, the Lynx went on to win the WNBA championship that year!
In 2018, the Lynx re-signed Cecilia. She became a standout player during the season, especially after making a thrilling "buzzer-beating" shot against the New York Liberty. This means she scored right as the game clock ran out, winning the game! After this, she played more often and became known for her role as a "sixth woman," someone who comes off the bench to make a big impact.
Cecilia did not play for the Lynx in 2019 or 2020 due to commitments with her national team and an ankle injury. However, she returned to the Lynx for the 2024 season. She signed a training camp contract and made the final team roster.
Playing for Fenerbahçe (2018–2021)
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On July 4, 2018, Cecilia signed a two-year contract with Fenerbahçe, a well-known women's basketball club in Turkey. She played there for three seasons.
Time with Virtus Bologna (2021–2024)
Cecilia joined the Italian club Virtus Bologna on May 5, 2021. In November 2021, her team was knocked out of the EuroCup tournament. In April 2022, Virtus Bologna reached the national finals for the first time in their history, which also qualified them for the EuroLeague Women. However, they lost in the finals.
In the next season, Virtus Bologna played in the EuroLeague Women for the first time. They finished first in the Italian championship but again lost in the national finals.
Moving to Galatasaray (2024–present)
On July 24, 2024, Cecilia signed with Galatasaray, another top team in the Turkish Women's Basketball Super League.
Joining the Golden State Valkyries (2025–present)
On December 6, 2024, Cecilia was chosen by the new WNBA team, the Golden State Valkyries, during the league's expansion draft. This means she will be one of the first players for this brand-new team starting in 2025!
