Melia relishing the chance to compete against some of the best in Spanish League 

Ireland senior international, Claire Melia is relishing the opportunity to pitch herself against some of the world’s top basketball players when she lines out for University of Ferrol in the Spanish League next season.

The Monasterevin woman, who has enjoyed huge success in the top ranks of Irish women’s club basketball with the likes of Glanmire and Pyrobel Killester, believes the time is right to make this move and compete in the highest tier in Spain.

Melia has long been a target of Ferrol head coach, Lino López, who appreciates the Kildare women’s creativity and tremendous ability under the boards at both ends of the court.

Excited about the move to Galacia, which she plans to make at the end of August, Melia told The Kildare Nationalist, “Lino had been contacting me the last couple of years to see if I would go and play over there for his team.

“The last few years just didn’t feel like the right time to go, but when he contacted me this year I said I’d go over and see Ferrol, and then I made my decision when I came home.

“I’m excited about going to play against some of the top players in the world. It’ll be a great experience and I’m hoping to get better as a player.

“It’s great to get the opportunity to have basketball as a job. Years ago I would’ve never imagined myself playing basketball as a job.

“I really appreciate Lino keeping in contact over the years and giving me this opportunity to play at the top level in Spain.

“Lino and the other staff on the team seem like such genuine people and care about you, not only as a player, but, more importantly, as a person.

“And it [Ferrol] is a small town, like home, and it’s similar to Ireland in my opinion. It’s not too far away either, only a two-hour flight” she added.

Melia, who was on international duty for Ireland at the latest FIBA 3x3 Women’s World Series stop in Switzerland last week, has also been named in the national squad that will take on Uganda in a two-game series in Germany on July 21 & 22.

Liffey Celtics pair, Sorcha Tiernan and Áine O’Connor have also been included in James Weldon’s 12-strong panel for the upcoming international friendlies that form part of their preparation for their next FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2025 qualifying window in November.

Melia, the 2023/24 MissQuote.ie Super League Player of the Year, is sure to be a vital cog in this Ireland set-up.

Indeed, she will be heading into the new Spanish season on the back of a remarkable year with Pyrobel Killester, whom she helped to a Super League and Champions Trophy double.

The Kildare woman, who first scooped the Basketball Ireland Player of the Year honour back in 2022 when she helped Glanmire to a domestic clean sweep, was a key figure in Killester’s titanic battle with Liffey Celtics throughout the 2023/24 season.

Both teams finished the regular season deadlocked on identical 17-3 records, with Mark Grennell’s side prevailing in the resulting title play-off.

And the Dublin side quickly added the Champions Trophy to their Super League crown following a convincing 25-point win over SETU Waterford Wildcats in the decider that saw Melia chalk up 12 points an