The national women’s basketball team is continuing to prepare for the preliminary qualifiers of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup which are scheduled to take place in Kigali from August 19 to 25.
Rwanda was drawn in Group D along-side Great Britain, Argentina and Lebanon.
The top two teams from the group will qualify for the semi-finals, and the winner will book a ticket to the qualifier tournament of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.
As teams gear up for the Kigali showpiece, fans should expect a tournament that won’t be short of talented players, including some household names from across the FIBA regions.
In this article, Times Sport presents some of the stars that are expected to light up the BK Arena when action tips off.
1. Bella Murekatete – Rwanda
CENTER
Birth Date: 4 July, 2000
Height: 1.91m
The first Rwandan to play NCAA Division I basketball, Murekatete is seen by many as the future of her national team.
After crossing the Atlantic almost a decade ago to pursue her academic and basketball ambitions stateside, this 1.91m (6ft i1n) center, is set to play her first major international tournament with Rwanda, after sitting out last year’s Women’s AfroBasket held in Kigali.
Before enjoying a successful career with the Washington State University, Murekatete, who left her home country as a 14-year-old, had a stellar career with Rwanda youth teams.
Murekatete, 23, appeared in all 36 games for the Cougars this year and averaged 11.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game.
During the 2023-24 season, she became the all-time program leader in career rebounds (990), blocks (188), games played (153) and games started (145). She finished her WSU career with 1,552 points, good for fifth all-time in program history.
Before the season, she was named to the 2024 Lisa Leslie Award Watch List and was also named to the 2023-24 Preseason All-Pac-12 team.
2. Rebecca Akl – Lebanon
POINT GUARD
Birth Date: 18 October, 1992
Height: 1.70m
Most of the time Lebanon's offense starts and finishes with Akl, and when she catches her rhythm it's hard to contain her.
3. Melisa Gretter – Argentina
POINT GUARD
Birth Date: 24 January, 1993
Height: 1.67m
Can the history of Argentina women’s basketball be told without a mention to Gretter? Probably not. A point guard with an impressive ability to read the game, Gretter has been the heart and soul of the Las Gigantes on so many occasions... And she rarely disappoints.
Since her debut with the senior team at FIBA Americas Championship for Women 2011, Gretter has become one of the faces - alongside Andrea Boquete who is unavailable for the Kigali showpiece - of the South American side.
4. Keisha Hampton - Rwanda
FORWARD
Birth Date: February 22, 1990
Height: 1.88m
The head coach of the national women’s national basketball team Cheikh Sarr added American-born forward Keisha Hampton to his provisional squad last month.
Hampton, 34, currently plays for the Chicago Sky in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She also previously played for the Minnesota Lynx.
Her skills and experience will be a boost for Rwanda as Sarr prepares a team ready enough to battle with world’s top teams in the pre-qualifiers.
Hampton, a 6’2 forward, was selected by the Seattle Storm as the 22nd overall pick in the 2012 WNBA Draft. Hampton went on to play overseas in the Isreali Women’s League for Bnot Hertzeliya appearing in 25 games in the 2015-16 season, averaging a team-high 17.8 points per game.
5. Holly Winterburn - Great Britain
GUARD
Birth Date: 1 October, 2000
Height: 1.80m
As if making the headlines at FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2023 - as the youngest player on the team - wasn't admirable enough, earlier this year, Winterburn had a terrific display helping her London Lions to a historic EuroCup Women title. Great Britain superstars Temi Fagbenle and Kristine Anigwe may not be available for this phase of the World Cup Qualifiers, but with Winterburn on board, GB has hope.