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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Short description|Belgian basketball player (born 2004)}}
{{Short description|Belgian basketball player (born 2004)}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Draft topics|biography|sports|europe}}
{{AfC topic|blp}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Nastja Claessens
| name = Nastja Claessens
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| height_in = 1
| height_in = 1
| height_cm = 1.85
| height_cm = 1.85
| draft_league = WNBA
| draft_year = 2024
| draft_year = 2024
| draft_round = 3
| draft_round = 3
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| wnba_profile = nastja-claessens
| wnba_profile = nastja-claessens
}}
}}
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'''Nastja Claessens''' (born 2 December 2004) is a Belgian [[basketball]] player for the [[Washington Mystics]] of the [[Women's National Basketball Association]] (WNBA). She has also played for the [[Belgium women's national basketball team]].

⚫
'''Nastja Claessens''' (born 2 December 2004) is a Belgian [[basketball]] player for the [[Washington Mystics]] of the [[Women's National Basketball Association]] (WNBA). She previously played for the [[Belgium women's national basketball team]], the Belgian Cats.


== Career ==
== Career ==
Nastja Claessens is the daughter of Belgian basketball coach Frederic Claessens and former [[Belgium women's national basketball team|Belgian Cat]] Irina Medvedeva, who comes from Turkmenistan. Nastja has both Belgian and Russian nationality. In her youth, she did ballet and played basketball. At the age of 11, she firmly chose the latter.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-26 |title=Nastja Claessens treedt in voetsporen van mama Irina Medvedeva bij Belgian Cats: “Ze is jonger, maar ik ben nog altijd beter” |url=https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20221125_97902804 |website=Het Nieuwsblad}}</ref> In her teenage years, she became one of the greatest basketball talents in Belgium.
Nastja Claessens is the daughter of Belgian basketball coach Frederic Claessens and former [[Belgium women's national basketball team|Belgian Cat]] Irina Medvedeva, who comes from Turkmenistan. Nastja has both Belgian and Russian nationality. In her youth, she did ballet and played basketball. At the age of 11, she firmly chose the latter.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-26 |title=Nastja Claessens treedt in voetsporen van mama Irina Medvedeva bij Belgian Cats: "Ze is jonger, maar ik ben nog altijd beter" |url=https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20221125_97902804 |website=Het Nieuwsblad}}</ref>


Claessens plays on the [[power forward]] position. At the age of 14, the West Flemish made her debut in the first team with the ladies of the Belgian club Ion Basket Waregem, where she played her first season in the [[Belgian Women's Basketball League]] in the 2020/21 season at the age of 15. In May 2023, she became the first player in Belgian women's basketball to be voted Player and Promising Player of the Year in the same season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-02 |title=Primeur: Nastja Claessens verkozen tot Speelster én Belofte van het Jaar |url=https://sporza.be/nl/2023/05/02/primeur-nastja-claessens-verkozen-tot-speelster-en-belofte-van~1683028094395/ |website=sporza.be}}</ref> That year Claessens switched to [[BC Castors Braine|Castors Braine]], but the 2023/24 season turned out to be a disappointment due to a persistent injury to the left wrist, which she sustained in November 2023 during the preparation with the Belgian Cats for the European Championship preliminary round. She underwent surgery in the spring of 2024. She played just eight games for Braine that season.
Claessens plays on the [[power forward]] position. At the age of 14, she made her debut in the first team with the ladies of the Belgian club Ion Basket Waregem, where she played her first season in the [[Belgian Women's Basketball League]] in the 2020/21 season at the age of 15. In May 2023, she became the first player in Belgian women's basketball to be voted Player of the Year and Promising Player of the Year in the same season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-02 |title=Primeur: Nastja Claessens verkozen tot Speelster én Belofte van het Jaar |url=https://sporza.be/nl/2023/05/02/primeur-nastja-claessens-verkozen-tot-speelster-en-belofte-van~1683028094395/ |website=sporza.be}}</ref> That year Claessens switched to [[BC Castors Braine|Castors Braine]], but the 2023/24 season turned out to be a disappointment due to a persistent injury to the left wrist, which she sustained in November 2023 during the preparation with the Belgian Cats for the European Championship preliminary round. She underwent surgery in the spring of 2024. She played just eight games for Braine that season.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}


On April 15, 2024, Claessens was selected during the WNBA Draft in the [[United States]] chosen as the thirtieth player by the [[Washington Mystics]], making them the next three [[Women's National Basketball Association|WNBA]]-seasons associated with that club. She herself stated that she would not move to the United States until 2025 at the earliest.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-16 |title=Nastja Claessens naar WNBA? Washington Mystics draft Belgisch toptalent: "Ik ben zo blij" |url=https://sporza.be/nl/2024/04/16/nastja-claessens-naar-wnba-washington-mystics-draft-belgisch-toptalent-ik-ben-zo-blij~1713250989363/ |website=sporza.be}}</ref>
On April 15, 2024, Claessens was selected during the [[2024 WNBA draft]] in the [[United States]] – being chosen 30th overall by the [[Washington Mystics]]. She opted to stay overseas for the 2024 season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-16 |title=Nastja Claessens naar WNBA? Washington Mystics draft Belgisch toptalent: "Ik ben zo blij" |url=https://sporza.be/nl/2024/04/16/nastja-claessens-naar-wnba-washington-mystics-draft-belgisch-toptalent-ik-ben-zo-blij~1713250989363/ |website=sporza.be}}</ref>


=== National team ===
=== National team ===
Claessens went through various youth series for Belgium. In 2022, she was appointed by the coach of the [[Belgium women's national basketball team|Belgian women's national basketball team]], Rachid Meziane called up for a European Championship preliminary round match. On November 22, the power forward conceded North Macedonia her debut with the first team of the Belgian Cats. In less than eight minutes of playing time, she scored three three-pointers and two free throws; and made them two [[Rebound (sports)|rebounds]], two [[Assist (basketball)|assists]] and a [[Steal (basketball)|steal]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hongerige Belgian Cats ronden kaap van 100 punten tegen Noord-Macedonië |url=https://sporza.be/nl/matches/basketbal/2022-11/hongerige-belgian-cats-ronden-kaap-van-100-punten-tegen-noord-macedonie~1668696929537/ |website=sporza.be |language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-18 |title=Maak kennis met baskettalent Nastja Claessens |url=https://focus-wtv.be/sport/maak-kennis-met-baskettalent-nastja-claessens |website=Focus en WTV |language=nl}}</ref>
Claessens went through various youth series for Belgium. In 2022, she was called up to the [[Belgium women's national basketball team|Belgian women's national basketball team]] for a European Championship preliminary round match. On November 22, the power forward conceded North Macedonia her debut with the first team of the Belgian Cats. In less than eight minutes of playing time, she scored three three-pointers and two free throws; and made two [[Rebound (sports)|rebounds]], two [[Assist (basketball)|assists]] and a [[Steal (basketball)|steal]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hongerige Belgian Cats ronden kaap van 100 punten tegen Noord-Macedonië |url=https://sporza.be/nl/matches/basketbal/2022-11/hongerige-belgian-cats-ronden-kaap-van-100-punten-tegen-noord-macedonie~1668696929537/ |website=sporza.be |language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-18 |title=Maak kennis met baskettalent Nastja Claessens |url=https://focus-wtv.be/sport/maak-kennis-met-baskettalent-nastja-claessens |website=Focus en WTV |language=nl}}</ref>

On 25 July 2024, following an injury to [[Julie Allemand]], Claessens was promoted to the Belgian squad for the [[2024 Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bulletsforever.com/2024/7/25/24206446/olympics-2024-nastja-claessens-belgium-womens-national-basketball-team|website=BulletsForever.com|title=Olympics 2024: Nastja Claessens named to Belgium women's national basketball team|date=25 July 2024|author=Lee, Albert}}</ref>


== Achievements ==
== Achievements ==
* 2023: Player and Promising Player of the Year in Belgium
* 2023: Player of the Year and Promising Player of the Year in Belgium


== References ==
== References ==
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== External links ==
== External links ==
* [https://www.fiba.basketball/en/player/267101/Nastja-Claessens Nastja Claessens - FIBA Player Profile]
* {{FIBA|new_id=267101|name=Nastja Claessens}}
* [https://www.basketballbelgium.be/member/claessens-nastja/ CLAESSENS, Nastja – Basketball Belgium]
* [https://www.basketballbelgium.be/member/claessens-nastja/ CLAESSENS, Nastja – Basketball Belgium]
* [https://www.wnba.com/player/nastja-claessens Nastja Claessens: Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and More – WNBA]
* [https://www.wnba.com/player/nastja-claessens Nastja Claessens: Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and More – WNBA]
{{Sister links|wikt=no|c=no|n=no|q=no|s=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|iw=no|d=Q125504079|m=no|mw=no|f=no}}
{{Sister project links|wikt=no|c=no|n=no|q=no|s=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|iw=no|d=Q125504079|m=no|mw=no|f=no}}


{{Washington Mystics current roster}}
{{2024 WNBA draft}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


{{Draft categories|
{{DEFAULTSORT:Claessens, Nastja}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Claessens, Nastja}}
[[Category:2004 births]]
[[Category:2004 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Power forwards]]
[[Category:Power forwards]]
[[Category:Belgian basketball players]]
[[Category:Belgian women's basketball players]]
[[Category:BC Castors Braine players]]
[[Category:BC Castors Braine players]]
[[Category:Washington Mystics players]]
[[Category:Washington Mystics players]]
[[Category:Washington Mystics draft picks]]
[[Category:Washington Mystics draft picks]]
[[Category:Basketball players at the 2024 Summer Olympics]]
}}
[[Category:Belgian expatriate basketball people in the United States]]
[[Category:Olympic basketball players for Belgium]]
[[Category:21st-century Belgian sportswomen]]

Latest revision as of 06:56, 22 December 2024

Nastja Claessens
Washington Mystics
PositionPower forward
LeagueWNBA
Personal information
Born (2004-12-02) 2 December 2004 (age 20)
Belgium
Listed height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Career information
WNBA draft2024: 3rd round, 30th overall pick
Selected by the Washington Mystics
Playing career2010–present
Career history
2010–2023Ion Basket Waregem
2023–2024Castors Braine
2024–presentWashington Mystics
Stats at WNBA.com

Nastja Claessens (born 2 December 2004) is a Belgian basketball player for the Washington Mystics of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She has also played for the Belgium women's national basketball team.

Career

[edit]

Nastja Claessens is the daughter of Belgian basketball coach Frederic Claessens and former Belgian Cat Irina Medvedeva, who comes from Turkmenistan. Nastja has both Belgian and Russian nationality. In her youth, she did ballet and played basketball. At the age of 11, she firmly chose the latter.[1]

Claessens plays on the power forward position. At the age of 14, she made her debut in the first team with the ladies of the Belgian club Ion Basket Waregem, where she played her first season in the Belgian Women's Basketball League in the 2020/21 season at the age of 15. In May 2023, she became the first player in Belgian women's basketball to be voted Player of the Year and Promising Player of the Year in the same season.[2] That year Claessens switched to Castors Braine, but the 2023/24 season turned out to be a disappointment due to a persistent injury to the left wrist, which she sustained in November 2023 during the preparation with the Belgian Cats for the European Championship preliminary round. She underwent surgery in the spring of 2024. She played just eight games for Braine that season.[citation needed]

On April 15, 2024, Claessens was selected during the 2024 WNBA draft in the United States – being chosen 30th overall by the Washington Mystics. She opted to stay overseas for the 2024 season.[3]

National team

[edit]

Claessens went through various youth series for Belgium. In 2022, she was called up to the Belgian women's national basketball team for a European Championship preliminary round match. On November 22, the power forward conceded North Macedonia her debut with the first team of the Belgian Cats. In less than eight minutes of playing time, she scored three three-pointers and two free throws; and made two rebounds, two assists and a steal.[4][5]

On 25 July 2024, following an injury to Julie Allemand, Claessens was promoted to the Belgian squad for the 2024 Summer Olympics.[6]

Achievements

[edit]
  • 2023: Player of the Year and Promising Player of the Year in Belgium

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Nastja Claessens treedt in voetsporen van mama Irina Medvedeva bij Belgian Cats: "Ze is jonger, maar ik ben nog altijd beter"". Het Nieuwsblad. 26 November 2022.
  2. ^ "Primeur: Nastja Claessens verkozen tot Speelster én Belofte van het Jaar". sporza.be. 2 May 2023.
  3. ^ "Nastja Claessens naar WNBA? Washington Mystics draft Belgisch toptalent: "Ik ben zo blij"". sporza.be. 16 April 2024.
  4. ^ "Hongerige Belgian Cats ronden kaap van 100 punten tegen Noord-Macedonië". sporza.be (in Dutch).
  5. ^ "Maak kennis met baskettalent Nastja Claessens". Focus en WTV (in Dutch). 18 December 2022.
  6. ^ Lee, Albert (25 July 2024). "Olympics 2024: Nastja Claessens named to Belgium women's national basketball team". BulletsForever.com.
[edit]
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