Athinaikos Signs Holly Winterburn

Athinaikos WBC has announced another significant move for the upcoming A1 Women's season, confirming the acquisition of Holly Winterburn, a talented 24-year-old British international guard. Winterburn, who will turn 25 in October, is set to bring valuable experience and skill to the Greek side.

Official Club Announcement

"Athinaikos WBC announces another move ahead of the new season, confirming the acquisition of British player Holly Winterburn (25 years old, 1.80 meters)."

Player Profile

Holly Winterburn, born on October 1, 2000, in Northampton, UK, stands at 1.80 meters (5'11"). A versatile guard, she is recognized for her all-around game, including scoring, passing, and rebounding. She is an alumna of Oregon University, Loughborough University, and the University of East London.

Recent Performance

Winterburn had a highly productive 2024-2025 season with Beşiktaş JK Istanbul in Turkey, where she showcased her abilities in both domestic and European competitions:

EuroCup Women: She averaged 11.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. Beşiktaş also notably reached the EuroCup Women final in 2025.
Turkish KBSL: In 22 games, she posted impressive statistics of 15.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.4 steals per contest.
She also had a brief stint with the Atlanta Dream in the WNBA.

International Career

A consistent presence in the British national team setup, Winterburn has been a regular member of the senior Great Britain team since 2021. She previously represented the Under 18 National Team in 2018. Her talent shone brightly at the European Championship (FIBA EuroBasket) U20 Division B in Prishtina, Kosovo, six years ago, where she was the tournament's leading scorer with over 18 points per game and ranked second in assists with almost 5 per game, helping her team reach the semifinals.

Professional Career Snapshot

United Kingdom: Played for Leicester Riders (2015–2019, 2020–2021) and London Lions (2021–2024).
Turkey: Most recently played for Beşiktaş JK (2024–2025).

Career Highlights & Achievements

FIBA EuroCup Women Champion (2024) 
5× WBBL Betty Codona Trophy champion (2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024)
2× WBBL Cup winner (2022, 2023)
3× WBBL League Champion (2022, 2023, 2024)
3× WBBL Play-off Champion (2022, 2023, 2024)
3× WBBL Young Player of the Year (2018, 2019, 2021)
Eurobasket.com British WBBL All-Domestic Players Team (2024)

Greece in the 2025 Women's European Basketball Championship

The 2025 Women's European Basketball Championship is officially underway, and for Greece, co-hosting this prestigious event from June 18th to 29th is a monumental occasion. The focus is firmly on our Greek National Team as they aim to make a significant impact on home soil. Let's take a closer look at the squad, their club affiliations, the influence of their European experience, and what they're truly striving for in this crucial tournament.

The Hellenic Squad: A Synergy of Domestic Strength and International Acumen

The Greek national team for EuroBasket Women 2025 is a compelling blend of talent, predominantly drawn from our strong domestic league, complemented by key players who bring invaluable international experience from top European clubs. This mix is vital for competing at the highest level of European basketball.

Here is the full roster, with a focus on their current club:

Ioanna Krimili: Panathinaikos (Greece)
Eleni Bosgana: CB Leganés (Spain)

Pinelopi Pavlopoulou: Athinaikos (Greece)
Angeliki Nikolopoulou: Olympiacos (Greece)
Vasiliki Louka: Athinaikos (Greece)
Artemis Spanou (C): BK Brno (Czechia) – Our captain, with extensive experience playing abroad, is a crucial leader.
Ioanna Chatzileonti: Panathinaikos (Greece)
Eleanna Christinaki: Olympiacos (Greece)
Robyn Parks: Athinaikos (Greece)
Antigoni Chairistanidou: Athinaikos (Greece)
Mariella Fasoula: Beşiktaş (Turkey)
Zafeirenia Karlafti: Olympiacos (Greece)

Club Insights:

The bedrock of this team clearly comes from the Greek A1 Women's Basketball League. Athinaikos stands out, contributing four players to the national squad. This significant representation from a single club suggests a cohesive system and strong player development. Similarly, Olympiacos (three players) and Panathinaikos (two players) reinforce the presence of Greece's basketball giants within the national setup.

Equally important are the players who have broadened their horizons by playing abroad. Mariella Fasoula (Beşiktaş, Turkey), Artemis Spanou (BK Brno, Czechia), and Eleni Bosgana (CB Leganés, Spain) are gaining experience in highly competitive leagues, facing diverse playing styles and high-pressure situations. This international exposure is invaluable, elevating the team's collective basketball IQ and resilience.

Under the guidance of Head Coach Petros Prekas and his experienced staff, including Assistant Coach Dimitra Kalentzou, the goal is to seamlessly integrate these various club experiences into a unified and formidable national team.

Key Players to Watch

While every player on the roster brings unique contributions, certain individuals are poised to be pivotal for Greece's success:

Mariella Fasoula (Center): Standing at 1.92m (6'4"), Fasoula is a dominant interior presence. In the EuroBasket Women 2025 Qualifiers, she was a standout performer, averaging 17.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. Her ability to score efficiently inside and control the boards will be critical against taller and more athletic opponents. She's a consistent double-double threat and a key offensive anchor.

Artemis Spanou (Power Forward): As the team captain and a veteran of multiple EuroBasket tournaments, Spanou provides invaluable leadership and versatility. At 1.86m (6'1"), she averaged 15.8 points and an impressive 9.0 rebounds per game during the qualifiers. Her all-around game, including her ability to facilitate (2.8 assists in qualifiers), makes her a cornerstone for both offense and defense. Her experience playing in elite European leagues like France and Czechia will be crucial in navigating high-pressure situations.

Eleanna Christinaki (Shooting Guard/Forward): Christinaki, at 1.84m (6'0"), offers a dynamic scoring threat from the perimeter and brings a valuable blend of size and athleticism to the wing. Her consistent scoring in the Greek league for Olympiacos, where she averaged nearly 15 points per game in the 2024-2025 season, highlights her offensive capabilities. In the qualifiers, she contributed 8.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, showcasing her all-around impact.

Robyn Parks (Forward): The naturalized American brings a strong scoring and rebounding presence. Standing at 1.85m (6'1"), Parks offers athleticism and versatility at the forward position. Her experience, including a recent stint in the WNBA (Connecticut Sun), adds a different dimension to the Greek attack, particularly in terms of aggressive play and impactful contributions on both ends of the floor.

Highest Achievement and Current Aspirations

Greece's most notable performance in the EuroBasket Women's Championship was in 2017, when they achieved a remarkable 4th place finish. This historical achievement demonstrated the team's potential to compete with Europe's best.

As co-hosts of EuroBasket Women 2025, Greece faces a unique opportunity and a significant challenge. Playing on home soil, particularly for their group games in Piraeus, provides an unparalleled advantage through the fervent support of their dedicated fanbase.

PAOK Women sign Keani Albanez

PAOK Women sign Keani Albanez. The 24 years old American guard graduated from Gonzaga where she averaged 13.1 points, 3 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. In the previous season Albanez played for Athinaikos, averaging 15.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.7 steals, and 2.1 assists per game in 21 games. In 2015 Albanez came to Greece for Panathinaikos and this will be her third year and third team in the Greek League.

Olympiacos (W) signed Erlana Larkins

Olympiacos (W) signed Erlana Larkins. The 30 years old American forward graduated from North Carolina and was picked by New York Liberty in the 14th overall place of the 2008 WNBA Draft. Larkins played two years for the New York Liberty and then moved to Indiana Fever. Larkins played four seasons for Indiana Fever and won the WNBA 2011-2012 championship. She has played overseas for Samsun BK, Adana ASKI and Mersin BSB in Turkey, Jiangsu Phoenix in China and PF Schio in Italy. With PF Schio Larkins won the Italian Championship and Cup in 2014.

Olympiacos (W) signed Evanthia Maltsi

Evanthia Maltsi

Olympiacos (W) signed Evanthia Maltsi. The 38 years old Greek guard is 1.78 metres high and started her career in Megas Alexandros. She has also played for MENT and Panathinaikos in Greece. Maltsi went abroad and played for Celta de Vigo and CDB Zaragoza in Spain, Bourges in France, and one season for the  Connecticut Sun in the WNBA. After the WNBA she continued in Europe for Ros Casares in Spain, UŠK Prague in Czech Republic, and for Kayseri Kaski, Homend Antakya and Botaş in Turkey. With the National Team of Greece she finished third in scoring at the 2010 FIBA World Championship for Women. Olympiacos signed Maltsi after winning its first Greek double, aiming for a good season in the European Championship.

PAOK (W) signed Liza Clemons

PAOK (Womens) signed Liza Clemons. The 23 years old American forward graduated from Purdue where in her senios year she averaged 9.1 points and 7 rebounds per game. Clemons was named first team IBCA All-State as a senior.

Panathinaikos (W) signed Keani Albanez

Panathinaikos (Women) signed Keani Albanez. The 22 years old American guard graduated from Gonzaga where she averaged 13.1 points, 3 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.

Proteas Voulas signed Katie Rutan and Jeanise Randolph

Proteas Voulas (Greek women's Basketball League) signed Katie Rutan and Jeanise Randolph. Rutan graduated from Maryland and participated in the NCAA Final Four. Randolph graduated from Cincinnati and has played in Spain for IDK Gipuzkoa UPV and in Sweden for Telge Basket.