The Aula Magna Sport of the Iberian press headquarters in Barcelona witnessed an exceptional round table in which the generational relief in female basketball was the great matter to be discussed. The colloquium was attended by Cindy Lima, former basketball player and Eurobasket champion in 2013, Ainhoa López, experienced player in the Endesa Women Diego, Caixabank sponsorship manager.
The entity is a pioneer in the impulse of women in sport and in the recognition and promotion of women's sport as elite sport. This summer 2025 comes a new generation, with the same values. A story of talent, motivation, effort and passion begins. The story of a new generation begins that comes to stay and leave their mark. And in Caixabank they want to be by their side accompanying them in each step of this new era.
The Aula Magna Sport hosted an interesting round table on the generational relief in female basketball / Valentine Enrich
Evolution
The conversation started with a trip to the past to know how the female basketball had changed in recent years. “I had an inspection of the Treasury and I had to tell them that I dedicated myself to the same thing as Pau Gasol,” Lima recalled. “Until recently there was no collective agreement, and that now shows a lot,” admitted one Ainhoa López who coincided with Isaac Fernández at Barça CBS. “The coaches came from far back and it was not fair. Now you see something that squeaks, but the situation is better,” the coach revealed. In addition, Treviño also spoke with a roundness about the importance of the relationship between doctor and athlete: “For their health, it is essential to have an interlocutor every time they have some problem or any doubt.”
As for how the generational relief is taking care of, American universities are gaining weight in recent years, and there are many players who decide to cross the Atlantic to continue their training, both academic and sports. “You cannot compete. There is a life experience that if the player wants to live it, will little matter what you offer. It can even go worse and that the 'colleges' signs at 16 to join the 18,” Fernández explained. Lima also looked at the United States and the exodus of athletes that has been producing: “If we can presume it, it is to train players very well, there is a lot of level in training coaches. But with what is happening with American universities I don't know how much more it can continue to be so,” he said.
Silvia Treviño and Raquel de Diego, during the round table / Valentine Enrich
Leaders and referents
Although for Ainhoa López this season has not been simple, Uni Girona player spoke about the difference between idol and reference. “Maybe the NBA stars have them as idols, but that accessibility we have today makes children have references here, in our basketball.” “It's nice to see how newcomers to absolute step on strong as referents of Spanish female basketball. I think we live a very good moment, so it has been harvested and for what is yet to come, which is already here,” said Raquel de Diego. Iyana Martín, Awa Fam or Helena Buenavida are some of the new faces of the National Team, called to be important in the present and future.
Ainhoa López and Isaac Fernández shared their reflections on the generational relief in female basketball / Valentine Enrich
Exemplary transition
Fernández, who in the last summers has been part of the Technical Staff of the Women's Absolute, also valued as the big names of the National Team (Alba Torrens, Laia Palau or Anna Cruz) were welcoming the young women who were arriving at the group. “They are incredible and it is no accident that they have been winning since 2013. I was flipped in how they won, how they treated the training, the young players or the way they took care of them. I will never forget my first training with them, 'they flew' on the field.” “It is important that the generational relay understands that gratitude to all the people who support them are part of the work,” said Cindy Lima. “I have seen Laia Palau Oa Núria Martínez to get companions from the locker room to sign autographs,” said Silvia Treviño, who has also been part of the selection medical staff.
Whenever a generational relief is raised in sport, there is talk of the new faces and the future, but it is also important to know how life is after retirement. “I suffered a valley moment and it is something that is not yet worked in the athlete's mind. Life seems a bit insula, and speaking with other athletes, the year and a half there is a decrease that can make you fall into depressions. But luckily basketball teaches some strategies, and all the virtues that this sport contributes helps,” said a Cindy Lima that announced his withdrawal in 2015.
Other cases such as Ainhoa López are interesting, since Catalan has alternated her career as a athlete along with taking out the degree of psychology. “Leo Rodríguez looked at the trips with the study, since in my first year as a professional I was enrolled in the university in person. It was she who discovered me the possibility of being able to study at a distance. The entire academic part that can be transferred to basketball is essential, but also the other way around, there is a feedback. The values that this sport has are applicable to life, and I am as I am as I am thanks to the basket.
Cindy Lima and Ainhoa López, during the conversation / Valentine Enrich
The Eurobasket challenge
Spanish female basketball has good health, and the generational relay that is lived in the selection does not diminish the options that Miguel Méndez's team can make a great female Eurobasket. The European Championship is played from June 18 to 29 jointly in the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy and Greece. “It is a sign of health that basketball is women's sport with more licenses in Spain. The new generation has the same values and I think an era that will go far. In CaixaBank we want to continue accompanying the selection in this journey, said Raquel de Diego.
An ambitious future
“I want us to get great active players and wonderful people when they leave basketball. They have health and do not suffer the losses that some of them have had with injuries that have mortgaged them, explained Silvia Treviño. Also in that key of will for the future, Isaac Fernández asked” that Caixabank will continue many years by our side “, and that” the past is getting more and more Keep going forward. “
The Aula Magna Sport hosted an interesting round table on the generational relief in female basketball / Valentine Enrich
For his part, Ainhoa López sang an ambitious speech on how he sees the next decade in female basketball. “You have to go to more. We have to be grateful to what we have, but we cannot settle ourselves, we have to continue fighting for better conditions, not only for the players, but also for the entire group that is part of this sport.”
And finally, Cindy Lima also talked about the importance of the games being scheduled at a time that can help hook more public. “I wish we have basketball in 'Prime Time' and that the audiences 'peten'. Basketball has taught me that you don't have to dream of the activated speed limiter. The success lived in Zaragoza with the Queen's Cup is no coincidence,” he concluded.
