Helena Sverrisdóttir Explained

Helena Sverrisdóttir
Birth Date:1988 3, df=yes
Birth Place:Reykjavík, Iceland
Height Cm:184
College:TCU (2007–2011)
Career Start:2000
Career End:2023
Career Position:Forward
Years1:2000–2007
Team1:Haukar
Years2:2011–2013
Team2:Good Angels Kosice
Years3:2013–2014
Team3:Diósgyőri VTK
Years4:2014–2015
Team4:CCC Polkowise
Years5:2015–2018
Team5:Haukar
Years6:2017–2018
Team6:→ Good Angels Kosice
Years7:2018
Team7:Ceglédi EKK
Years8:2018–2021
Team8:Valur
Years9:2021–2023
Team9:Haukar
Cyears1:2015–2016
Cteam1:Haukar
Cyears2:2020–2021
Cteam2:Valur (assistant)
Highlights:As player:

As coach:

Helena Sverrisdóttir (born 11 March 1988) is an Icelandic former basketball player. Generally considered the greatest Icelandic female basketball player of all time, she was named the Icelandic Women's Basketball Player of the Year 12 times.[1] During her playing career, she won the Icelandic championship five times and the Slovak championship two times.

Helena played college basketball for TCU where she was named the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year in 2010.

She played for the Iceland women's national basketball team for 21 years, becoming its all-time leader in games played in 2023.

Early life

Helena was born in Reykjavík, Iceland, but grew up in Hafnarfjörður.[2] She played both basketball and football in her youth.[3]

Playing career

Helena first played for Haukar's senior team in 2000, at the age of 12.[3] [4] After winning Division I in 2002 with Haukar, Helena took the Úrvalsdeild by storm in 2002-2003,[5] averaging 17.1 points, 9.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists. She was named the Úrvalsdeild Young Player of the Year and was widely regarded as the top prospect in the country. Despite her performance, Haukar finished last in the league and were relegated back to Division I.[6]

In 2003-2004, at the age of 16, Helena averaged a quadruple-double in the Icelandic Division I with 37.6 points, 13.3 rebounds, 11.6 assists and 10.2 steals.[7] Out of the 16 games she played, she posted a quadruple-double in six of them. Her best scoring output came against Ármann/Þróttur where she scored 86 points.[8]

She played college basketball for TCU from 2007 to 2011.[9] [10]

Helena returned to Haukar in 2016 after 9 seasons away[11] and helped the club achieve the best regular season record in the Úrvalsdeild kvenna. For the season she averaged 24.4 points, 13.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists, and was named the Úrvalsdeild Domestic Player of the Year.[12] Helena missed most of the 2016-2017 season due to being pregnant of her first child.[13] [14] She returned to the floor on March 19 in a loss against Stjarnan, five weeks after the birth of her daughter.[15] [16] [17]

On December 20, 2017, Haukar loaned Helena to Good Angels Kosice until the end of January 2018.[18] On January 21, Helena helped the Good Angels win the Slovak Basketball Cup.[19] [20]

On April 30, 2018, she helped Haukar to win the national championship, their fourth championship and first one in nine years.[21] Helena was named the Úrvalsdeild Playoffs MVP[22] after averaging 20.2 points, 12.2 rebounds and 10.8 assists in the finals series.[23] On May 4, Helena was named the Úrvalsdeild Domestic Player of the Year and to the Úrvalsdeild Domestic All-First Team.[24]

On 16 May 2018, Helena signed with Ceglédi EKK of the Hungarian Nemzeti Bajnokság I/A.[25] In November she left the club after a contract dispute.[26] [27] [28]

On 15 November 2018, Helena signed with Úrvalsdeild kvenna club Valur.[29] On 16 February 2019, she won the Icelandic Cup after Valur defeated Stjarnan in the Cup finals, 74-90. In the game, Helena had 31 points, 13 rebounds and 6 assists.[30] On 27 April 2019, she helped Valur win its first ever national championship after beating Keflavík in the Úrvalsdeild finals 3-0.[31] After the season she was named the Úrvalsdeild Domestic Player of the Year for the second straight year and to the Úrvalsdeild Domestic All-First Team.[32]

Valur opened the 2019–20 season by defeating Keflavík, 105-81, in the annual Icelandic Super Cup where Helena posted 14 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists.[33] It was Valur's first Super Cup win and the victory made them the holders of all four major national crowns, the others being the national championship, the national cup and the league championship which is awarded for the best regular season record in the Úrvalsdeild.[34]

In December 2019, she was named the Icelandic Women's Basketball Player of the Year for the 12th time in her career.[35]

On 29 May 2020, Helena announced that she was pregnant with her second child.[36]

On 2 June 2021, she won the national championship after Valur beat Haukar 3–0 in the Úrvalsdeild finals and was named the Playoffs MVP.[37] After the season, she was named to the Úrvalsdeild Domestic All-First Team.[38]

On 19 June 2021, Helena signed back with her hometown team of Haukar.[39] [40] On 18 September 2021, she led Haukar to victory in the Icelandic Cup and was named the Cup Finals MVP after turning in 26 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists[41] in the 94–89 win against Fjölnir in the Cup finals.[42] On 30 September, she scored 32 points in the second leg of the 2021–22 EuroCup Women Qualifiers matches against Clube União Sportiva, leading Haukar to an aggregate win of 160-157 and a seat in the EuroCup regular season.[43] On 19 March 2022, she won the Icelandic Cup again after Haukar defeated Breiðablik in the 2022 Cup Finals.[44]

On 20 September 2023, still battling with injuries, Helena was an unused substitute in Haukar's 78-77 win against Valur in the Icelandic Super Cup.[45] On 19 November 2023, she announced her retirement from playing due to a knee injury.[46]

TCU statistics

Source[47]

Icelandic national team

Helena is the Icelandic women's national basketball team's allt team leader in games played, playing 81 games from 2002 to 2023.[48] [49]

Personal life

Helena's sister, Guðbjörg Sverrisdóttir, plays for Valur in Úrvalsdeild kvenna and was named to the 2016 Úrvalsdeild Domestic All-First Team. She has also played for the Icelandic national team since 2014.[50] [48] Her brother, Kristján Leifur Sverrisson, played for Haukar in Úrvalsdeild karla.[51] [52]

Helena is married to former Icelandic national team player Finnur Atli Magnússon[3] [53] with whom she has one daughter.[54]

Awards, titles and accomplishments

Individual awards

Titles

Iceland

Slovenia

Accomplishments

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Körfuknattleiksfólk ársins 2016 · Gunnhildur og Martin . 2017-05-27 . 2018-07-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180719024433/http://kki.isi.is/frettir/frett/2016/12/13/Korfuknattleiksfolk-arsins-2016-Gunnhildur-og-Martin/?pagetitle=K%C3%B6rfuknattleiksf%C3%B3lk+%C3%A1rsins+2016+%C2%B7%C2%A0Gunnhildur+og+Martin . dead .
  2. News: Helena Sverrisdóttir - Yngsti leikmaðurinn valinn í A-landsliðið . 19 November 2023 . Tímarit Morgunblaðsins . . 28 December 2003 . 6 . Icelandic . Tímarit.is.
  3. News: Svanur Már Snorrason . Davíð Eldur . Helena Sverrisdóttir: "Tólf ára ætlaði ég að verða best á Íslandi" . 11 January 2021 . Karfan.is . 11 January 2021 . Icelandic.
  4. Web site: 2. deild kvenna - Haukar . . 11 January 2021 . Icelandic.
  5. News: Óskar Ófeigur Jónsson . Sú fjórtán ára er fremst allra . 12 May 2020 . . 3 December 2002 . 27 . Icelandic . Tímarit.is.
  6. News: Fjórföld tvenna að meðaltali. 11 August 2017. Dagblaðið Vísir. 3 April 2004. Icelandic . Tímarit.is.
  7. http://gamli.kki.is/mot/1500001813_HAUKAR______.htm Tölfræði - Haukar
  8. News: Helena skoraði 86 stig í stórsigri Haukaliðsins. 11 August 2017. Mbl.is. Morgunblaðið. 22 March 2004. Icelandic . Tímarit.is.
  9. News: Mac Engel . Helena is cool as ice . 10 April 2022 . . 16 January 2010 . 1D, 3D . Newspapers.com.
  10. News: Stefan Stevenson . 'Ice' warms up to Texas, language, TCU hoops . 10 April 2022 . . 19 January 2011 . 1D, 7D . Newspapers.com.
  11. News: Jónsson. Starri Freyr. Nýr kafli að hefjast hjá Helenu. 11 August 2017. Vísir.is. 13 May 2016. Icelandic.
  12. News: Þórðarson. Tómas Þór. Helena: Þarf hjálp við að fá systur mína yfir. 11 August 2017. Vísir.is. 6 May 2016. Icelandic.
  13. News: Sæmundsson. Ingvi Þór. Helena missir af næsta tímabili. 11 August 2017. Vísir.is. 26 July 2016. Icelandic.
  14. News: Grétarsson. Benedikt. Helena ekki með Haukum í vetur. 11 August 2017. Mbl.is. Morgunblaðið. 26 July 2016. Icelandic.
  15. News: Helena spilar fimm vikum eftir fæðingu. 11 August 2017. Mbl.is. Morgunblaðið. 19 March 2017. Icelandic.
  16. News: Helena sneri aftur en Stjarnan fagnaði sigri. 11 August 2017. Mbl.is. Morgunblaðið. 19 March 2017. Icelandic.
  17. News: Sverrisson. Sindri. "Mun hressari en ég hafði ímyndað mér". 11 August 2017. Mbl.is. Morgunblaðið. 21 March 2017. Icelandic.
  18. News: Helena á leiðinni aftur til Slóvakíu. 20 December 2017. Morgunblaðið. 20 December 2017. Icelandic.
  19. News: Pohár sa vracia do Košíc. 21 January 2018. goodangelskosice.eu. 21 January 2018. Slovak.
  20. News: Benedikt Bóas. Stal bikartitlinum í Slóvakíu: Þetta var svo dramatískt. 23 January 2018. Vísir.is. 23 January 2018. Icelandic.
  21. News: Jóhann Ingi Hafþórsson. Haukar Íslandsmeistarar í fjórða skipti. 30 April 2018. Morgunblaðið. 30 April 2018. Icelandic.
  22. News: Böðvar Sigurbjörnsson. Helena best í úrslitakeppninni: "Man ekki eftir að hef séð hana svona góða". 30 April 2018. Vísir.is. 30 April 2018. Icelandic.
  23. News: Ingvi Þór Sæmundsson. Helena með þrefalda tvennu að meðaltali í úrslitunum. 1 May 2018. Fréttablaðið. 30 April 2018. Icelandic.
  24. News: Henry Birgir Gunnarsson. Kristófer og Helena valin leikmenn ársins. 4 May 2018. Vísir.is. 4 May 2018. Icelandic.
  25. News: Einar Örn Jónsson. Helena til Ungverjalands. 16 May 2018. RÚV. 16 May 2018. Icelandic.
  26. News: Ástrós Ýr Eggertsdóttir . Helena og Finnur á leiðinni heim . 13 November 2018 . . 13 November 2018 . Icelandic.
  27. News: Ólafur Þór Jónsson . Helena laus frá Cegléd – Á leið heim? . 13 November 2018 . Karfan.is . 13 November 2018 . Icelandic.
  28. News: Kristján Jónsson . Helena á heimleið . 13 November 2018 . . 13 November 2018 . Icelandic.
  29. News: Davíð Eldur . Helena Sverrisdóttir í Val . 15 November 2018 . Karfan.is . 15 November 2018 . Icelandic.
  30. News: Valur bikarmeistari í fyrsta sinn . 16 February 2019 . . 16 February 2019 . Icelandic.
  31. News: Valur Páll Eiríksson . Valskonur Íslandsmeistarar í fyrsta sinn . 27 April 2019 . . 27 April 2019 . Icelandic.
  32. News: Óskar Ófeigur Jónsson . Helena og Kristófer valin best annað tímabilið í röð . 10 May 2019 . . 11 May 2019 . Icelandic.
  33. News: Anton Ingi Leifsson . Vandræðalaust hjá Val gegn Keflavík í Meistarakeppni KKÍ . 30 September 2019 . . 29 September 2019 . Icelandic.
  34. News: Valur bætti fjórða bikarnum í safnið . 30 September 2019 . . 29 September 2019 . Icelandic.
  35. News: Körfuknattleiksfólk ársins 2019 - Helena og Martin . 13 December 2019 . . 13 December 2019 . Icelandic.
  36. News: Davíð Eldur . Helena Sverrisdóttir með barni . 30 May 2020 . Karfan.is . 30 May 2020 . Icelandic.
  37. News: Sæbjörn Þór Þórbergsson Steinke . Umfjöllun og viðtöl: Valur - Haukar 74-65 - Sópurinn á lofti og Valur Íslandsmeistari . 3 June 2021 . . 2 June 2021 . Icelandic.
  38. News: Davíð Eldur . Allir verðlaunahafar í úrvalsdeild kvenna – Sara Rún leikmaður ársins . 29 June 2021 . Karfan.is . 29 June 2021 . Icelandic.
  39. News: Helena heim í heiðardalinn . 19 June 2021 . . 19 June 2021 . Icelandic.
  40. News: Jóhann Ingi Hafþórsson . Aldrei tekið eins erfiða ákvörðun . 29 June 2021 . . 29 June 2021 . Icelandic.
  41. News: Helena valin leikmaður úrslitaleiksins . 19 September 2021 . . 18 September 2021 . Icelandic.
  42. News: Sæbjörn Þór Þórbergsson Steinke . Umfjöllun, viðtöl og myndir: Fjölnir - Haukar 89-94 - Haukar bikarmeistari í sjöunda sinn eftir hörkuleik . 19 September 2021 . . 18 September 2021 . Icelandic.
  43. News: Ingvi Þór Sæmundsson . Ótrúlega stórt og frábært skref fyrir kvennakörfuna . 2 October 2021 . . 2 October 2021 . Icelandic.
  44. News: Árni Jóhannsson . Leik lokið: Haukar - Breiðablik 88-81 - Haukar bikarmeistarar 2022 . 19 March 2022 . . 19 March 2022 . Icelandic.
  45. News: Sæbjörn Þór S. Steinke . Umfjöllun og viðtal: Valur - Haukar 77-78 Haukakonur meistarar meistaranna eftir flautukörfu . 21 September 2023 . . 20 September 2023 . Icelandic.
  46. News: Smári Jökull Jónsson . Helena leggur skóna á hilluna . 19 November 2023 . . 19 November 2023 . Icelandic.
  47. Web site: NCAA Statistics. web1.ncaa.org. 2021-06-24.
  48. Web site: KKÍ A landslið . kki.is. 2017-12-02.
  49. News: Sú besta hætt eftir 30 ár í körfubolta . 19 November 2023 . . 19 November 2023 . Icelandic.
  50. News: Jónsson. Óskar Ófeigur. Fjórar systur á leið með landsliðinu til Ungverjalands. 11 August 2017. Vísir.is. 19 November 2015. Icelandic.
  51. Web site: Frændsystkinin Kristján Leifur og Sólrún Inga í landsliðshópum 15 ára og yngri. haukar.is. 11 August 2017. 1 February 2011. Icelandic.
  52. News: Ívar áfram og blásið til sóknar. 11 August 2017. Mbl.is. Morgunblaðið. 3 April 2017. Icelandic.
  53. News: Finnur Atli og Helena trúlofuð . 16 December 2018 . . 4 May 2015 . Icelandic.
  54. News: Helena spilar fimm vikum eftir fæðingu . 16 December 2018 . . 19 March 2017 . Icelandic.