Dallas Mavericks' star Klay Thompson took to Instagram on Monday, August 19, to commend Rwanda’s Bella Murekatete after her stellar performance helped Rwanda secure a strong start at the FIBA Women’s World Cup pre-qualifiers.
Rwanda defeated Lebanon 80-62 victory at BK Arena in Kigali to register its first-ever triumph against a non-African team in style.
ALSO READ: Rwanda beats Lebanon in Basketball W. Cup qualifiers
Murekatete, who plays as a center and is based in the United States, was the standout performer of the game, leading with a game-high 24 points.
"I see you Murekatete keep leading!” Thompson posted on Instagram.
At 24 years old, Murekatete continues to make significant strides in basketball. She recently had a remarkable college career with the Washington State Cougars, where she played a crucial role in leading the team to the Women's Basketball Invitational Tournament (WBIT) semi-finals this year.
ALSO READ: Basketball W.Cup qualifiers: Meet the women representing Rwanda
Standing at 1.90 meters (6 feet 3 inches), she averaged 11.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game during the 2023/2024 season. Over her five-year college career, she accumulated 1,552 points, making her the fifth-highest scorer in the Cougars' history.