Rwanda’s star power forward Keisha Hampton is arguably establishing herself as one of standout performers at the FIBA Women’s World Cup pre-qualifying tournament which is underway at BK Arena.

At 34, Hampton is one of experienced players in the Rwandan roster and her leadership and performance have been influential in the hosts’ wins over Lebanon and Argentina respectively, hence qualifying to the semifinals with one more game to play against Great Britain on Thursday.

Over the past two games, the former Women National Basketball Association (WNBA) player averaged 18 points,3 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game highlighting her presence on the boards and her role in both offensive and defensive plays.

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Standing at 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 metres), Hampton is an accomplished American basketball player who has had a notable career both in the WNBA and internationally.

After being drafted by the Seattle Storm in 2012, she played for several WNBA teams, including the Minnesota Lynx and Chicago Sky.

She has also had a diverse international career, with stints in Europe, the Middle East, and most recently Rwanda.

ALSO READ:Rwanda beats Lebanon in Basketball W. Cup qualifiers

The journey

Born on February 22, 1990, Hampton played college basketball at DePaul University, where she had a standout career. Hampton was drafted by the Seattle Storm in the second round of the 2012 WNBA Draft but faced significant challenges due to injuries, which delayed the start of her professional career.

Hampton's career path has taken her to Dunkirk, Bnot Herzliya, Minnesota and Chicago (WNBA), Girona, Villeneuve-d'Ascq (16 games in the LFB regular season for an average of 13.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists) Polkowice, Bourges (14 games for an average of 13.1 points in the regular season), Eirene Raguse and Landerneau (5 games for an average of 12.8 points in the LFB play downs).