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Maite Cazorla: "It's a shame about Gran Canaria, but it will soon return to the elite"

Basketball player Maite Cazorla analyzes the current state of island sports and her international experience.

Female basketball player in action on a court with blurred stadium lights.
IA

Female basketball player in action on a court with blurred stadium lights.

Renowned basketball player Maite Cazorla regrets Gran Canaria's relegation but is optimistic about its swift return to the elite.

Maite Cazorla Medina, a prominent figure in Canarian basketball and sister of fellow players Juan Pedro and Carlos Cazorla, shared her insights on the current state of sports on the island and her aspirations for the upcoming World Cup. The 28-year-old point guard analyzed her recent experience in Atlanta and her future sporting challenges.
After concluding the season in Prague with the EuroLeague title, Cazorla moved to the United States for a training camp with Atlanta. Despite not being selected, the player expressed happiness with the experience, acknowledging the bureaucratic hurdles in obtaining a US visa, a process that required her to transit through Canada.
Cazorla voiced her desire to fully experience the WNBA, a league she previously played in as a rookie in 2019. "I would love to live it fully. In 2019 I had it as a rookie and it was great, although it was short. Now, with my experience, I would love to enjoy and make the most of it," she stated.
The player also recounted her involvement in the NBA 2K20 video game, describing the motion capture and facial expression process as "very cool." Despite some disagreements with her in-game ratings, she was satisfied with the experience.
Regarding her adaptation to the Czech Republic, Cazorla highlighted the beauty of Prague and the fantastic season with USK Praha, culminating in the EuroLeague victory. "Prague is a beautiful place. Winning the EuroLeague is something I haven't fully processed yet. Next season I will continue there," she confirmed, announcing her continued stay in the city, albeit with a different team.
On the Women's World Cup, Cazorla noted that while it is played on two courts in the same city, which facilitates adaptation, it will be a "difficult" tournament with strong rivals. Spain will share a group with Germany, the host nation, and she is confident they will finish first in the initial phase. She sees the United States, France, and Australia as the main favorites for the podium, without ruling out Belgium or Turkey.
At 28 years old, Cazorla approaches her first World Cup "at a good moment," feeling like a "more complete" player than in her early days. She emphasizes her improvement in confidence and physical conditioning, in addition to being a point guard who enjoys making assists, inspired by idols like 'Chacho' Rodríguez and Ricky Rubio.
The player also reflected on the evolution of women's basketball, recalling role models like Laia Palau and Silvia Domínguez, with whom she played, and comparing it to a time when her idols were predominantly male. Her relationship with her brothers Juan Pedro and Carlos is "excellent," and they were instrumental in encouraging her to move to Barcelona and the United States.
Finally, Cazorla lamented the relegation of Dreamland Gran Canaria and SPAR Gran Canaria, calling it a "shame" given the talent on the islands. However, she expressed conviction that "we will soon return to the elite, and with strength." She recalled her beginnings at Las Teresianas school and her time in the Segle XXI project, the NCAA with the University of Oregon, where she was the first Spanish player to reach the 'final four', and her professional career in Spain and the Czech Republic, adapting to changes and uncertainty.

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