00:04Last year, Cecilia Zondalazzini drove Italy to its first FIBA Women's Eurobasket medal in 30 years.
00:11Now, she's ended another long wait.
00:15Step back three for Zondalazzini.
00:18What a bucket for your veteran.
00:22Leading her nation to its first World Cup berth since 1994.
00:27What a game by Team Italy.
00:30They came in the underdogs.
00:32They stamped their ticket, the 2026 World Cup.
00:38Zondalazzini starred for Italy at the qualifying tournament in San Juan earlier this year,
00:43earning a place on the All-Star 5 after delivering 14 points a game.
00:49Cecilia Zondalazzini.
00:51That's what you want from your veteran.
00:52And saving her best for when it mattered most, with 22 in an upset win over Spain
00:59that sealed the Azzurres' place at September's tournament in Berlin.
01:03Cecilia Zondalazzini doing what she does best.
01:07She is so skilled, so strong, and finishes so well at the rim through contact.
01:14She was far from alone, though.
01:17Guard Francesca Pazza, playmaker Costanza Verona, and center Lorella Kubai
01:22among those providing important contributions throughout
01:25as Italy closed the tournament with a 4-1 record.
01:32It built on the momentum of Italy's run at Eurobasket last year,
01:36which included Zondalazzini hitting the winning basket in overtime against Turkey A.
01:41It's Zondalazzini, she turns!
01:44And gets it to go, finally!
01:47And a 20-point effort to push her team past France in the third-place game.
01:52The bronze medal representing Italy's best finish since taking silver in 1995.
01:57And the Italians have done it!
01:59Remarkable scenes!
02:01They have come from Bologna, and really, they have shocked Perez!
02:06They have reached the podium!
02:10But perhaps just as special was the group phase,
02:13played in front of a home crowd in Bologna
02:16as Italy's 3-0 start set the tone for its historic run.
02:21Spins, fades, oh!
02:23This is the ceiling!
02:37In Bologna, there were a lot of people, you know, coming and seeing us,
02:42which brings, you know, the momentum towards this team
02:46and towards women's basketball in general in Italy.
02:50So, as everybody can say,
02:53a nation like to grow needs national team to win games
02:57and to win as much as possible in international competition.
03:01So, I think we are in a good path.
03:05Zandalosini for three!
03:06And one!
03:08She throws the three!
03:09Zandalosini!
03:11Zandalosini has continued that work,
03:13growing the game in her homeland,
03:14spending this past season with Famalaschio,
03:17helping it win the Lega Basket Femenile title
03:20before returning to the United States for her fifth WNBA season
03:24and second with the Golden State Valkyries.
03:30And with the World Cup approaching in September,
03:33it won't be long before Zandalosini swaps her Valkyries jersey
03:36for the Azzurri once more.
03:48The Italians will tip off in Berlin against Czechia,
03:51playing its first World Cup in 12 years,
03:54before facing the two finalists from 2022,
03:57defending champion United States and silver medalist China.
04:01It will be a challenging group,
04:03but for a team that has already ended two long waits in the past year,
04:07the best may be yet to come.
04:11Zandalosini's going to force things a little bit.
04:13When you have that level of ability,
04:16Zandalosini with another three ball.
04:18For all the latest on the road to FIBA Women's World Cup 2026,
04:23head to FIBA.Basketball.
04:25Shot clock at four, Zandalosini will have to create for herself.
04:28High arcing Zandalosini!
04:31The Hals go to the ceiling!
04:37Zandalosini!
04:37Zandalosini!
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