Melia to become first Irish woman bastetballer to play in a European club semi-final

Monasterevin’s Claire Melia is set to break new ground for basketball in this country by becoming the first Irish woman to contest a European club basketball competition semi-final when she lines out for Spanish side, Baxi Ferrol in the opening leg of their 2024/25 Euro Cup last-four tie against France’s LDLC ASVEL Féminin in Spain tonight.

After having helped Killester to a Super League and Champions Trophy double last season, the Ireland senior international opted to test herself on the European stage, and made the move to Spain in the summer when University of Ferrol head coach, Lino López came in search of her signature.

Melia’s tremendous ability under both boards was something that made her a long-time target of the Ferrol boss, and her acquisition in 2024 has certainly bolstered his squad this season.

The 2023/24 Super League Player of the Year has figured strongly for the Spanish outfit in their Euro Cup campaign, which saw them qualify for the knockout stages after finishing level on points with Group J winners, Galatasaray.

A comfortable victory over Castors Braine propelled them through to the last 16 of the competition where they served up a thrilling showdown against Hungarian side, DVTK.

While Ferrol edged the opening leg at home 78-73, they found themselves 18 points down heading into the final quarter of the second leg a week later, only to outgun their hosts by that very amount over the remainder of the tie to level the match and secure further progress through to the quarter-finals.

Another huge fourth-quarter display propelled Ferrol to a 95-76 victory away to Dinamo Sassari in the opening leg of their last-eight clash, and they finished off the Italian side at home, running out 89-70 winners in that encounter.

That latest outing on the Euro Cup stage saw Melia pick up nine points and lead the way for her team under the boards with a total of eight rebounds to help set them up for a date with LDLC ASVEL Féminin, who, themselves, fought back from a five-point reversal away to Spar Girona in their quarter-final first leg to secure further passage by way of a 72-51 home win.

Now gearing up for a historic moment in Irish basketball this evening, Melia, who, only last month, served up a huge 26 points and 12 rebounds for Ireland in their narrow 96-90 loss to Latvia in the FIBA 2025 EuroBasket qualifiers, will be hoping it will be an occasion that brings with it, victory, and the inside track to a European final for her team.