Performance Spotlight: Claire Melia - FIBA EuroCup

Claire Melia made history for Irish women's basketball when she stepped on the court for her club - Spain's Baxi Ferrol - in the semi-finals of FIBA EuroCup on Thursday night, becoming the first female player from this island to play at this stage of a European club competition.

Not content with that however, Melia - from Monesterevin in Co. Kildare - decided to turn in a performance worthy of the occassion. 

Playing in their maiden season at this level, BAXI Ferrol fans packed the gym in Galacia in North West Spain and they were treated to a show - 27 points on 11 of 15 shooting, four rebounds and three assists for Melia on a night where their opposition, French side LDLC ASVEL Feminin entered the two-legged tie as favourites and defending champions. Progression to the final is not yet secure, but the 93-62 win has ensured that more history may be on the horizon for Melia. 

 Claire Melia (right) celebrates following BAXI Ferrol's first leg win over Lyon in the FIBA EuroCup semi-finals.

Her performance moves her up to 14th in FIBA EuroCup standings for total points, while she currently sits 30th in total rebounds and 11th in total blocks. 

It's been a long road to get to this point for Melia and Ferrol, who began their journey to this point back on September 19th in a qualifier against Italian side PB63. They won that tie 89-47 and haven't done much wrong since. Thursday night marked their 15th FIBA EuroCup game of the season, with their sole defeat coming against Galatasaray in the group stage. 

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It's far from the first occassion in which Claire Melia has stood out on the big occassion, the frontcourt ace was Women's Super League Player of The Year for the 2023/24 season in which she helped Killester win a Super League and Champions Trophy double - the second time she achieved such a feat after helping The Address UCC Glanmire take home Super League honours previously. She also sparkled during Ireland's recent FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025 qualifier against Latvia in Dublin, leading the team with 26 points, 11 rebounds and six assists with an efficiency rating of 31 in a 96-90 defeat. 

For now though her focus is solely on the return leg next Thursday night in Lyon, as history beckons for both Melia and her club. 

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