Elena Buenavida Eyes World Cup Spot in Senior National Team Debut

Spanish women’s basketball is entering a new era, with fresh talent paving the way for upcoming international tournaments. For Elena Buenavida, this transition marks a major career milestone: her first call-up to the senior national team. The Valencia Basket player, originally from Granadilla, is currently in Tenerife for the International Tournament at the Santiago Martín arena. Her goal is clear: to prove herself to the head coach and secure a spot on the roster for the World Cup in Berlin.

This homecoming is a full-circle moment for the point guard, who previously represented Spain in youth categories across Santa Cruz and Puerto de la Cruz. After recovering from the physical setbacks that sidelined her during a recent trip to Germany, Buenavida is now competing for one of the twelve final roster spots. With seven players set to be cut before the team departs for Germany on September 4th, the pressure is on.

Buenavida’s profile has risen significantly following the news that she will join the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx next summer. While this move is a major achievement, she remains focused on the task at hand: preparing for the World Cup and competing against world-class opponents like Nigeria and Belgium. She has emphasized that her current priority is her commitment to both the national team and her club in Valencia.

The training camp in Tenerife has also been a symbolic experience. The presence of legendary player and 2001 Eurobasket medalist Nieves Anula highlights the enduring legacy of women’s basketball on the islands. For Buenavida, playing in the same arena that hosted the 2018 World Cup is deeply personal. She has gone from being a fan in the stands to an elite athlete, now helping to lead the next generation of Spanish basketball.