CaixaBank presents the Spanish national team on their road to EuroBasket 2025

• For the third consecutive year, CaixaBank’s ‘All in One’ space in Madrid has hosted the official presentation of the senior women’s national basketball team, which today marks the start of the ‘Imperium Nostrum’ tour ahead of EuroBasket 2025, a competition that will take place from June 18 to 29.

• The team, currently undergoing a generational transition, heads into the continental tournament as the reigning European runner-up.

• Since 2013, CaixaBank has been a sponsoring partner of the Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB) and the official sponsor of the Spanish national team, both women’s and men’s, across all age categories, from the senior team to the under-16s.

As a sponsoring partner of the Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB), CaixaBank organized the official presentation of the players selected by national coach Miguel Méndez, as well as the entire coaching staff, ahead of the upcoming EuroBasket 2025, which will take place this summer.

The event was attended by FEB President Elisa Aguilar; CaixaBank’s Director of Communication and Institutional Relations, María Luisa Martínez Gistau; and the President of the Spanish National Sports Council (CSD), José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes, who all expressed their support and excitement for this new challenge.

With a setting inspired by the Roman Empire, symbol of the historic successes of Spanish basketball, the event also served to unveil this summer’s slogan: “Imperium Nostrum,” a tribute to the legacy of the national team, the only country in Europe with four gold medals in both the men’s and women’s categories.

The players called up for this first training phase are: Alba Torrens, Maite Cazorla, Paula Ginzo, Raquel Carrera, Andrea Vilaró, María Araújo, Mariona Ortiz, Irati Etxarri, Aina Ayuso, Awa Fam, Iyana Martín, Helena Pueyo, Elena Buenavida, and Ángela Mataix, along with Txell Alarcón, Carolina Guerrero, and Noa Morro as invited players.

The event began with a speech by María Luisa Martínez Gistau, CaixaBank’s Director of Communication and Institutional Relations, who emphasized the team’s new chapter and generational transition: “A new era begins for the national team, but one thing remains unchanged: the ambition and excitement with which you face these challenges. In sports, in business, and in life, excitement is the energy that drives us and makes us better.”

During her speech, she also highlighted: “You represent that excitement like no one else, and it’s shared by the entire country. Renewal is always part of a legacy. Starting in June, you will become part of the history of a team we are proud of, not only for your achievements but for the values you bring to society.”

Then, several of the main players spoke:

Alba Torrens, team captain: “I feel excited and eager to be here. I don’t think about the past because being on this team is a renewed dream. It’s always been my goal to wear this jersey. My mindset is to contribute and help the team. The key to our success has always been unity. We want to do well and work together to grow and reach our best version.”

Maite Cazorla: “We need to focus on the team, stay united, and bring out the competitive spirit that defines us to go as far as possible. We’ll only reach our goal by giving our best.”

Mariona Ortiz: “I’m very happy and grateful to be here and part of this group. It’s important to know where you want to go, but even more important is the journey. We must enjoy it, knowing there will be setbacks, but we must keep going and strive to be better every day.”

Iyana Martín: “Last year we were here as guests, and we talked about how it would be a dream to play in a EuroBasket and now we’re here. We’re eager to work and contribute.”

Awa Fam: “We’re full of excitement and ready for our first EuroBasket. It’s a dream to be here and wear this jersey. Experience will come from other players and the staff, but we bring competitiveness and the drive to give it our all.”

National Coach Miguel Méndez also spoke, highlighting the group’s potential despite recent absences and emphasizing the importance of the work that begins today in preparation for the championship. In the coach’s words: “Both the staff and the players represent Spanish basketball, and we carry a great responsibility wearing this jersey. I love hearing the players talk about the team, that’s the word that must come above all. Our goal is to build the best team possible and play our best basketball, without looking back or too far ahead. We must prepare ourselves to give our best and compete at the highest level. If we do that, we’ll be able to win any game.”

During the event, FEB President Elisa Aguilar addressed the team, appealing to the pride, responsibility, and talent of a group that represents an entire country. Elisa Aguilar stated: “The word ‘commitment’ best defines today’s event and the path this team is beginning. The commitment of our captain, Alba Torrens, who will lead the team with her leadership and example. The commitment of players like Raquel Carrera and Maite Cazorla, who, despite physical challenges, fight to be here. Just like all the players, who have forged their own paths to contribute as much as possible to the national team. I also want to thank our coach, Miguel Méndez, who is a guarantee and will bring out the best in our players both athletically and personally. And of course, I want to thank CaixaBank for their commitment, because they have always supported us, and I’m thrilled that we are connected during this generational shift. Lastly, the commitment of the CSD to sport in general, especially to women’s basketball, is fundamental to the success of the national team.”

For his part, José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes, President of the Spanish National Sports Council, closed the event with a message of confidence: “This call-up represents much more than a list of names, I believe it expresses a national project, a vision of equality and values. When we talk about the success of our national teams, we’re talking about achievements that make us feel very proud. We have an incredible team, and our confidence in you is absolute. I wish you all the best, and we hope you bring us great joy this June,” said Uribes.

A presentation that, like every summer, turned CaixaBank’s ‘All in One’ space into the home of #LaFamilia.

CaixaBank, a leading sponsor of Spanish basketball

CaixaBank is a sponsoring partner of the Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB) and the official sponsor of the Spanish national team, both women’s and men’s, across all categories, from the senior team to the under-16s. It is also the main sponsor of the Spanish Federation of Sports for People with Physical Disabilities, with the goal of promoting wheelchair basketball.

At the same time, the financial institution sponsors numerous basketball youth academies across Spain, both professional and amateur. Through its partnerships with teams, CaixaBank promotes the practice and development of basketball for training teams and basketball schools throughout its area of influence. These agreements support participation in official competitions, the organization of training camps, the awarding of scholarships to young athletes, and the training of coaches.

CaixaBank has been involved with Spanish basketball since 2013, and its commitment and activation of multiple initiatives around the sport have helped increase visibility and amplify the impact of Spain’s greatest international achievements.

As part of its local sponsorship strategy, CaixaBank has collaborated with the most important basketball events held in Spain over the past decade, both professional and amateur, bringing the values of sport to every corner of the country. Notable examples include its role as an official sponsor of the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup held in Spain, its collaboration with the 2018 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Tenerife, the 2021 Women’s EuroBasket in Valencia, and its long-standing support of the CaixaBank 3x3 Circuit, the largest street basketball circuit in Spain. Since 2012, this grassroots competition has brought together over 60,000 players of all ages and attracted more than 430,000 visitors, traveling through 49 Spanish cities.

On the occasion of the 2014 Men’s Basketball World Cup in Spain, the FEB and CaixaBank joined forces to promote a sports volunteer program that would go beyond the tournament itself: the FEB CaixaBank volunteers program. Eleven years later, the program has built a strong community of nearly 25,000 volunteers who support all official basketball events organized by the FEB.