A Positive Experience to Build Upon
Sep 12, 2023 | Women's Basketball, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
Gisela Sanchez hasn't yet scored a point in a Kansas State uniform, but the redshirt sophomore forward made a sizable accomplishment as a member of Spain's 2023 FIBA U20 Women's European Championship team in Lithuania.
Sanchez scored a team-high 14 points against France in the semifinals and scored in double figures in two other games for Spain, which took bronze in the seven-game tournament in August.
"You always want to represent your country," Sanchez says. "We always strive to be first place, but it was nice to get a medal and it was a good experience."
That the 6-foot-3 Sanchez found herself on the basketball court was a personal victory in itself.
Sanchez rubs her right knee as she speaks while sitting inside the Ice Family Basketball Center. She injured her knee in the first game of the 2022 European Championship, prompting a nine-month rehabilitation and delaying her first season in Manhattan.
Sanchez, a native of Barcelona, Spain, arrived on the K-State campus prior to the 2022-23 season after spending her true freshman season at Arizona, where she averaged 7.2 minutes per game in 20 contests in 2021-22.
"The rehabilitation was hard," she says. "My fear was that I didn't know if I'd be good when I came back. I didn't know. But I worked hard. The weights, rehab and individual workouts gave me the confidence of 'You're OK.' It was a hard rehab, but I got better. It was a long nine months."
Now she awaits the official start of practice for the 2023-24 season and is eager to help the Wildcats capture a Big 12 Championship.
"We have a great team, and we can go far," she says. "We have very good players. I'm so confident with this team. We can do very well."
K-State returns 10 letterwinners, including four starters, from last season's 2023 WNIT squad. The Wildcats will be led by 2022 All-American center Ayoka Lee, who returns for her senior season, senior guard and 2023 All-Big 12 First Team selection Gabby Gregory, and the junior trio of Brylee Glenn, Jaelyn Glenn and Serena Sundell.
Sanchez, who is working out at 100% health for the first time in more than a year, says, "The knee feels good. It's fine."
She proved her game was fine in the FIBA U20 Women's European Championship as well.
In seven games, Sanchez averaged 8.3 points on 41.7% shooting from the floor, including 47.1% from 3-point range, to go along with 3.3 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 0.7 steals in 15.8 minutes per contest.
"In the European game, we like to run, run, run, and we like it to be fast," she says. "We like a fast game."
There was no slowing down Sanchez as she grew up in Barcelona. She began playing basketball at age 5, and at age 16, helped Spain to capture the bronze at the U16 European Championships. She played for Segle XXI — her high school — in Spain, averaging 10.3 points and 6.6 rebounds during the 2020-21 season. That summer, she represented Spain in the 2021 FIBA U19 World Basketball World Cup in Hungary.
"I didn't know if I'd come to the United States until my last year of high school in Spain," she says. "I was thinking about either staying in Spain or coming to the United States. I guessed that the best option that I had for my future was to come here because I could combine my studies and basketball, which is difficult to do in Spain. Here, studies and basketball are important. In Spain, basketball can be most important, or studies can be most important. You can choose between both."
Sanchez decided to play basketball at Arizona and attended school knowing hardly any English. When she opted to transfer after her true freshman season, K-State came calling with an opportunity.
"Here in Kansas, the people are so friendly," she says. "I love that feeling. In basketball, I love how they care. They care about basketball and all the sports."
The caring nature within the K-State women's basketball program helped to keep her chin up when times were tough.
"Last year was hard because of my injury, but I thought it'd be harder," she says. "The staff and players were my friends and that made it easier for me."
What has Sanchez learned during her experience?
"Before I was like, 'I want everything now.' Now I'm more patient," she says. "With patience, things are better at the end. The past year what I learned about me is if I work hard, I can do whatever I want. When I had the injury, I didn't know if I could come back or if I would be bad.
"I started thinking more positive and worked my hardest. Now I think I am good."
Times are good, too. And they might only continue to become better.
"After school, I'd like to go to Europe and play professionally, and I'll have my degree in psychology," she says. "I'd like to do something with my life after basketball."
For now, she continues to await her opportunity to jog onto the basketball court with the Wildcats for the first time.
"I'll be a little bit nervous for sure," she says. "I will enjoy it. I've been thinking about it and how it will go. I'll be excited for the moment."
And perhaps for the many moments to follow.
Gisela Sanchez hasn't yet scored a point in a Kansas State uniform, but the redshirt sophomore forward made a sizable accomplishment as a member of Spain's 2023 FIBA U20 Women's European Championship team in Lithuania.
Sanchez scored a team-high 14 points against France in the semifinals and scored in double figures in two other games for Spain, which took bronze in the seven-game tournament in August.
"You always want to represent your country," Sanchez says. "We always strive to be first place, but it was nice to get a medal and it was a good experience."
That the 6-foot-3 Sanchez found herself on the basketball court was a personal victory in itself.
Sanchez rubs her right knee as she speaks while sitting inside the Ice Family Basketball Center. She injured her knee in the first game of the 2022 European Championship, prompting a nine-month rehabilitation and delaying her first season in Manhattan.
Sanchez, a native of Barcelona, Spain, arrived on the K-State campus prior to the 2022-23 season after spending her true freshman season at Arizona, where she averaged 7.2 minutes per game in 20 contests in 2021-22.
"The rehabilitation was hard," she says. "My fear was that I didn't know if I'd be good when I came back. I didn't know. But I worked hard. The weights, rehab and individual workouts gave me the confidence of 'You're OK.' It was a hard rehab, but I got better. It was a long nine months."
Now she awaits the official start of practice for the 2023-24 season and is eager to help the Wildcats capture a Big 12 Championship.
"We have a great team, and we can go far," she says. "We have very good players. I'm so confident with this team. We can do very well."
K-State returns 10 letterwinners, including four starters, from last season's 2023 WNIT squad. The Wildcats will be led by 2022 All-American center Ayoka Lee, who returns for her senior season, senior guard and 2023 All-Big 12 First Team selection Gabby Gregory, and the junior trio of Brylee Glenn, Jaelyn Glenn and Serena Sundell.
Sanchez, who is working out at 100% health for the first time in more than a year, says, "The knee feels good. It's fine."
She proved her game was fine in the FIBA U20 Women's European Championship as well.
In seven games, Sanchez averaged 8.3 points on 41.7% shooting from the floor, including 47.1% from 3-point range, to go along with 3.3 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 0.7 steals in 15.8 minutes per contest.
"In the European game, we like to run, run, run, and we like it to be fast," she says. "We like a fast game."
There was no slowing down Sanchez as she grew up in Barcelona. She began playing basketball at age 5, and at age 16, helped Spain to capture the bronze at the U16 European Championships. She played for Segle XXI — her high school — in Spain, averaging 10.3 points and 6.6 rebounds during the 2020-21 season. That summer, she represented Spain in the 2021 FIBA U19 World Basketball World Cup in Hungary.
"I didn't know if I'd come to the United States until my last year of high school in Spain," she says. "I was thinking about either staying in Spain or coming to the United States. I guessed that the best option that I had for my future was to come here because I could combine my studies and basketball, which is difficult to do in Spain. Here, studies and basketball are important. In Spain, basketball can be most important, or studies can be most important. You can choose between both."
Sanchez decided to play basketball at Arizona and attended school knowing hardly any English. When she opted to transfer after her true freshman season, K-State came calling with an opportunity.
"Here in Kansas, the people are so friendly," she says. "I love that feeling. In basketball, I love how they care. They care about basketball and all the sports."
The caring nature within the K-State women's basketball program helped to keep her chin up when times were tough.
"Last year was hard because of my injury, but I thought it'd be harder," she says. "The staff and players were my friends and that made it easier for me."
What has Sanchez learned during her experience?
"Before I was like, 'I want everything now.' Now I'm more patient," she says. "With patience, things are better at the end. The past year what I learned about me is if I work hard, I can do whatever I want. When I had the injury, I didn't know if I could come back or if I would be bad.
"I started thinking more positive and worked my hardest. Now I think I am good."
Times are good, too. And they might only continue to become better.
"After school, I'd like to go to Europe and play professionally, and I'll have my degree in psychology," she says. "I'd like to do something with my life after basketball."
For now, she continues to await her opportunity to jog onto the basketball court with the Wildcats for the first time.
"I'll be a little bit nervous for sure," she says. "I will enjoy it. I've been thinking about it and how it will go. I'll be excited for the moment."
And perhaps for the many moments to follow.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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