Maria Vadeeva Explained

Maria Vadeeva
League:RPL
Team:UMMC Ekaterinburg
Number:77
Position:Center
Height Ft:6
Height In:4
Weight Lbs:185
Birth Date:1998 7, df=yes
Birth Place:Moscow, Russia
Draft League:WNBA
Draft Year:2018
Draft Round:1
Draft Pick:11
Draft Team:Los Angeles Sparks
Career Start:2014
Years1:2014–2016
Team1:Sparta&K Moscow
Years2:2016–2018
Team2:Dynamo Kursk
Years3:2018–2019
Team3:Los Angeles Sparks
Years4:2018–present
Team4:UMMC Ekaterinburg
Highlights:

Maria Alekseyevna Vadeeva (Russian: Мари́я Алексéевна Вадéева; born 16 July 1998) is a Russian professional basketball player for the UMMC Ekaterinburg of the Russian Premier League. Vadeeva was the 11th overall pick in the 2018 WNBA draft. She is the first player who was born after the WNBA was founded.[1]

Career

Europe

In 2014, Vadeeva began her professional career with Sparta&K Moscow, playing in the Russian Premier League and the EuroCup.[2] In 2016, Vadeeva moved south and signed with Dynamo Kursk, still playing in the Premier League as well as the EuroLeague. In the 2016–17 season, Dynamo Kursk took home the title.[3]

WNBA

Vadeeva was drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks with the 11th overall pick in the 2018 WNBA draft.[4] Vadeeva had some visa issues that didn't allow her to join the team right away. She played in 25 games during her rookie season.[5]

WNBA career statistics

Regular season

|-| align="left" | 2018| align="left" | Los Angeles| 25 || 0 || 8.2 || .527 || .333 || .750 || 2.2 || 0.4 || 0.4 || 0.4 || 0.5 || 3.6|-| align="left" | 2019| align="left" | Los Angeles| 15 || 1 || 12.0 || .490 || .313 || .769 || 3.9 || 0.7 || 1.0 || 0.2 || 1.2 || 7.8|-| align="left" | Career| align="left" | 2 year, 1 team| 40 || 1 || 9.6 || .506 || .321 || .760 || 2.8 || 0.5 || 0.6 || 0.4 || 0.8 || 5.2

Playoffs

|-| align="left" | 2018| align="left" | Los Angeles| 1 || 0 || 3.0 || 1.000 || .000 || .000 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 2.0|-| align="left" | 2019| align="left" | Los Angeles| 3 || 0 || 8.3 || .100 || .000 || .000 || 2.3 || 0.7 || 0.0 || 1.0 || 0.7 || 0.7|-| align="left" | Career| align="left" | 2 year, 1 team| 4 || 0 || 7.0 || .182 || .000 || .000 || 1.8 || 0.5 || 0.0 || 0.8 || 0.5 || 1.0

National team

Youth level

Vadeeva made her international debut at the 2013 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship in Bulgaria, where Russia placed sixth. Vadeeva once again participated, returning to the 2014 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship in Hungary, where Russia won the title, taking home their fifth Under-16 Championship. Vadeeva was then named to the national team for the 2015 FIBA Under-19 World Championship in her home nation. Russia would remain undefeated until the final, falling to the United States and taking home silver. Vadeeva was awarded a place on the All-Tournament Team.[6]

Senior level

Vadeeva made her senior international debut at EuroBasket Women 2015, at just the age of 16. In her debut tournament, Vadeeva averaged 12.3 points per game and 5.9 repounds per game.[7] Vadeeva was once again named to Russia's roster, for EuroBasket Women 2017 in the Czech Republic.[8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Maria Vadeeva is younger than the WNBA itself. Lee. Albert. 14 April 2018. Swish Appeal. 20 December 2020.
  2. Web site: Maria Vadeeva's profile – 2015 EuroCup Women. archive.fiba.com.
  3. Web site: Maria Vadeeva (RUS)'s profile – FIBA EuroLeague Women 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161029064106/http://www.fiba.com/europe/euroleaguewomen/2017/Maria-VADEEVA. live. 29 October 2016. FIBA.
  4. Web site: Lee . Albert . Los Angeles Sparks draft Maria Vadeeva 11th in 2018 WNBA Draft . swishappeal.com . Swish Appeal . 17 March 2023.
  5. Web site: Dull . Ben . L.A. Sparks rookie season review: Maria Vadeeva . silverscreenandroll.com . SB Nation . 17 March 2023.
  6. Web site: Wilson named MVP of 2015 FIBA U19 Women's World Championship, headlines All-Star Five . https://archive.today/20150729121956/http://www.fiba.com/news/wilson-named-mvp-of-2015-fiba-u19-womens-world-championship-headlines-all-star-five . live . 29 July 2015 . 26 July 2015 . FIBA.
  7. Web site: Maria Vadeeva's profile – 2015 EuroBasket Women. FIBA.
  8. Web site: Maria Vadeeva (RUS)'s profile – FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170613054551/http://www.fiba.com/eurobasketwomen/2017/Maria-Vadeeva. live. 13 June 2017. FIBA.