Virtus Bologna Women's Basketball

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Virtus Bologna
Virtus Bologna logo.svg
NicknameVu Nere (Black V)
LeaguesLBF
EuroCup Women
Founded2019; 3 years ago (2019)
HistoryVirtus Pallacanestro Bologna
2019–present
ArenaSegafredo Arena
Capacity9,700
LocationBologna, Italy
Team colorsWhite, black
   
Main sponsorSegafredo Zanetti
CEOLuca Baraldi
PresidentAlberto Piombo
Head coachLino Lardo
Team captainElisabetta Tassinari
OwnershipMassimo Zanetti[a]
Websitevirtus.it

Virtus Pallacanestro Bologna, known for sponsorship reasons as Virtus Segafredo Bologna,[1] is an Italian professional women's basketball club based in Bologna, Emilia-Romagna.

The club was founded in 2019, as the women's wing of Virtus Bologna, one of the most important men's basketball team in Europe. Virtus is owned by the coffee entrepreneur Massimo Zanetti.[2]

History[]

2019–2021: Beginnings and first results[]

In July 2019, the CEO of Virtus Bologna, Luca Baraldi, announced the opening of a women's basketball wing, to participate in the Serie A1 championship.[3] In the same month, Alberto Piombo, a tax advisor, was appointed president of the women's wing.[4] The 2019–20 season started with some troubles for Virtus, however, it was later cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic.

In the 2020–21, Virtus signed among others Abby Bishop, Brooque Williams and Ana Marjia Begic, while it confirmed many players of the previous season, like the team captain, Elisabetta Tassinari.[5] Moreover, the new head coach was Lorenzo Serventi. Virtus ended the regular season at the fourth place and was defeated in the national semifinals by Reyer Venezia.[6]

2021–present: Zandalasini era[]

On 20 May 2021, the club signed the 25 years old Cecilia Zandalasini, widely considered among the best Italian players of all time and 2017 WNBA Champion with the Minnesota Lynx.[7] On the same day, president Zanetti announced Lino Lardo as the new head coach. Lardo, who already coached the Black V's men's wing during the early 2010s, is also the coach of Italy's women's national team.[8] The roster was completed within a few days: on 24 May, Virtus signed also Sabrina Cinili, a point guard from Famila Schio,[9] on 27 May Ivana Dojkić, a Croatian shooting guard from UKS Praha[10] on 29 May Myisha Hines-Allen, a small forward from Lattes Montpellier who became WNBA Champion in 2019,[11] and on 30 May Brianna Turner, a power forward from Adelaide Lightning.[12]

Despite good premises, in November 2021 the team was eliminated in the group stage of the EuroCup.[13]

Season by season[]

Season Tier League Pos. W–L Italian Cup European competitions
2019–20 1 LBF 13th[b]
5–14
2020–21 1 LBF 4th
20–11
 Semifinalist
2021–22 1 LBF
—
 2 EuroCup
RS
2–4

Players[]

Current roster[]

Segafredo Virtus Bologna roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Wt. Age
SF 2 United States Hines-Allen, Myisha 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 97 kg (214 lb) 26 – (1995-05-30)30 May 1995
PG 6 Italy 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) 86 kg (190 lb) 21 – (2000-05-22)22 May 2000
G 7 Italy  (C) 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) 100 kg (220 lb) 28 – (1994-01-28)28 January 1994
G 9 Italy 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) 95 kg (209 lb) 22 – (1999-03-09)9 March 1999
SF 11 Italy 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) 109 kg (240 lb) 30 – (1991-09-08)8 September 1991
SF 15 Italy 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) 104 kg (229 lb) 26 – (1995-11-06)6 November 1995
C 17 Italy 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 111 kg (245 lb) 32 – (1989-09-09)9 September 1989
SG 18 Croatia Dojkic, Ivana 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) 80 kg (176 lb) 24 – (1997-12-24)24 December 1997
PG 20 Italy 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) 112 kg (247 lb) 32 – (1989-10-03)3 October 1989
PF 21 United States Turner, Brianna 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 88 kg (194 lb) 25 – (1996-07-05)5 July 1996
SF 24 Italy Zandalasini, Cecilia 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) 100 kg (220 lb) 25 – (1996-03-16)16 March 1996
SF 46 Italy Cinili, Sabrina 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 100 kg (220 lb) 32 – (1989-04-22)22 April 1989
Head coach
  • Italy Lino Lardo
Assistant coach(es)
  • Italy Jordan Losi
  • Italy Angela Gianolla
  • Italy Giacomo Campanella
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured Injured
Updated: 16 September 2021

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.

References[]

  1. ^ Segafredo Virtus Bologna, Eurosport
  2. ^ Virtus Pallacanestro Bologna – Proprietà, www.virtus.it
  3. ^ Bologna ora ha anche le donne in A-1: obiettivo salvezza, poi le ambizioni
  4. ^ Alberto Piombo, Virtuspedia
  5. ^ Femminile, Virtuspedia
  6. ^ A1 Femminile - Reyer Venezia, sarà finale: battuta la Virtus Bologna, Pianeta Basket
  7. ^ La Virtus Bologna ufficializza Cecilia Zandalasini: Felice di tornare e vestire questa maglia, Sportando
  8. ^ Segafredo Virtus Bologna, l’allenatore della squadra femminile è Lino Lardo, Sportando
  9. ^ Sabrina Cinili nuovo acquisto di Virtus Segafredo Bologna, Virtus Pallacanestro Bologna
  10. ^ Ivana Dojkić nuovo acquisto di Virtus Segafredo Bologna, Basket Inside
  11. ^ La Virtus Bologna batte un altro colpo: Myisha Hines-Allen è bianconera, Basket Inside
  12. ^ Brianna Turner nuovo acquisto di Virtus Segafredo Bologna, Virtus Pallacanestro Bologna
  13. ^ EuroCup Women – Carolo sbanca Bologna, Virtus eliminata, Basket Inside
  1. ^ Majority Shareholder
  2. ^ Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic

External links[]

Stub icon 1 Stub icon 2

This article about a basketball team in Italy is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by .

  • v
  • t
Retrieved from ""