One of Spanish basketball’s true greats Amaya Valdemoro has decided to retire, aged 37-years-old.
Her last action in the Spanish red and yellow was an epic Eurobasket Women gold medal winning show against the hosts and favourites France, in which Spain won 70-69 in-front of a partisan French crowd in Orchies. She lifted the trophy aloft, signalling Spain’s comeback from a disappointing tournament in Poland, two years earlier.
Valdemoro has been there, seen it, and done it. The veteran has represented Spain an unprecedented 258 times and also played for women’s basketball’s biggest clubs, including a stint in the WNBA.
The now retired guard admits though that nothing beats putting on the jersey of her country. Something you see very rarely with most players these days.
“One of the things I feel most proud of is to have worn the national team colours 258 times” Valdemoro said.
“I have played with twelve different teams, but I was always ready to wear the Spanish jersey.
“My mother saw me make my debut with the national team and that character I displayed on the court is something I owe to her.”
Fellow team-mate Elisa Aguilar, who called it a day moments after Spain’s triumph at Eurobasket Women paid homage to her close friend. “Today, the best Spanish player of all time is stepping down,” stated Aguilar. “Thank you for being our guiding star and for setting an example to follow.”
