By Cesare Milanti / info@eurohoops.net
MANILA, Philippines – The 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup will take place in Berlin, Germany, and two basketball icons came to Manila to present the competition in the Mall of Asia Arena press conference room.
The legendary Sue Bird and the 2023 FIBA World Cup Global Ambassador Pau Gasol attended the event in front of the media, talking about the next major International competition for Women’s Basketball.
“It is a great moment for basketball, for FIBA. We said in Sydney that we were very proud to have a legendary player of the Men’s Game being our Global Ambassador, and we couldn’t find a better one for Germany like Sue Bird. She has a record we may see no other player break, she has been tremendous. We have experienced and enjoyed her performances in the Women’s World Cup”, FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis said at the beginning of the event.
“It’s a lot of excitement. I feel honored to be sitting here. I really feel like Women’s Basketball is a really exciting moment, it’s pivotal, and I want to help continue to grow that game”, Sue Bird commented on being the Global Ambassador of the next FIBA Women’s World Cup.
“During my first Olympics in Athens, flying home with the gold medal, one of the flight attendants came up to me and asked me if the pilot could see it, and everybody wanted to check on it. When you’re representing your country, it’s not just you. I was very fortunate enough to be in five World Cups and five Olympics. Never took that moment for granted”, she then added.
Pau Gasol, Global Ambassador of the latest Women’s World Cup in Sydney, was next to her. “I’ve always enjoyed watching women’s teams, their commitment to the country, and to the game I’ve felt pretty much the same. Seeing how the game has grown and the differences over the years, how can we make that shorter? The progress has been made. I feel the love of the game, and as Sue said it’s a very exciting time for Women’s Basketball. Sydney was very special, I felt privileged to be there”, he said.
“I think the beauty of playing a 20-year professional career is that you know you did as much as you could. I felt really passionate as a player trying to leave my mark, and now I feel just as passionate. Another number 6 is coming, but that’s the point: it continues to promote and elevate the game”, Sue Bird added about leaving the spot to somebody else in the future.
She then touched on ways to develop the product everywhere. “The way I try to view it it’s not WNBA and FIBA, because it’s one global game. In Women’s sports, we have stories. A lot of times, those have not the chance to be told. One part can be telling more of the players’ stories, there’s been a lack of that”, the former Seattle Storm player added. “What we’re learning in the world of Women’s Basketball is working together, this is taking you a little further. It needs to be one team, and hopefully, I can help bridge those gaps. In my retirement season, the amount of International fans who came to Seattle blew me away. We’re figuring that out for Women’s Basketball, and it’s exciting”, Sue Bird said.
“Becoming World Champion is something that stays for you forever in a way. It doesn’t define your life, but it’s something you can really be proud of. Sometimes, you fall short and the country suffers with it. For us, it was a huge moment in 2006, becoming World Champion for the first time. We built that identity and the culture, which has been great: one of the things I’m the most proud of”, Pau Gasol then said on what it means to become a World Champion.
Sue Bird also took time to comment on that. “The way the World Cup is arguably it’s one of the hardest ones. In my first World Cups, we played 9 games: that was no easy task, and for me personally, that was my first taste of what International basketball was, what it meant representing the USA jersey”, she added before commenting on the importance of sports in life. “Everything I’ve learned from sports has moved into life: how to get along with people, and how to set goals and achieve them. Staying in sports is gonna give you the life lessons you need, the really important ones”, she said.
Pau Gasol also spoke about it. “Sport is such an incredible educator, it’s extremely valuable. I’d encourage any young girl or boy to go for it. School is important, but the values you learn through sport are something you will carry on for the rest of your life”, the legendary Spanish player added.
Finally, Pau Gasol also spoke about what Kobe Bryant’s goals were for the sake of Women’s Basketball. “His impact really influenced, affected and inspired me to get involved and be proactive. He had plans, we could see it. He wanted Gigi to have the same opportunities he had. He was part of that change, and it inspired and touched me. It opened my eyes, being a part of the change“, he said.
Sue Bird and Paul Gasol on Jenni Hermoso’s accident
During the press conference, both basketball icons were asked to comment on what happened during Spain’s celebration at the end of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, with the President of the Spanish football federation Luis Rubiales kissing Jenni Hermoso without her consent.
“It starts with people being able to tell their truth, holding the powers that be for the lack of the better accountable. It’s a very sad situation that happened to Jenni, I fully support her. We all saw it with our own eyes, and the sad part is that even when you see it people aren’t necessarily held accountable. It starts with her being able to tell her truth”, Sue Bird said.
Pau Gasol followed: “I completely agree with Sue. For us in Spain, seeing my country win for the first time ever the World Cup, it was disappointing to see that happen later, with that type of behavior. It was difficult to experience that, seeing that moment of joy and happiness being taken away from her. It was very challenging, and we are still dealing with it. As President of the Federation, you should know better”.
PHOTO CREDIT: 2023 FIBA World Cup
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