Virtus Bologna Women's Basketball

Virtus Pallacanestro Bologna, known for sponsorship reasons as Virtus Segafredo Bologna,[1] is an Italian professional women's basketball club based in Bologna, Emilia-Romagna.

Virtus Bologna
NicknameVu Nere (Black V)
LeaguesLBF
EuroCup Women
Founded2019 (2019)
HistoryVirtus Pallacanestro Bologna
2019–present
ArenaSegafredo Arena
Capacity9,700
LocationBologna, Italy
Team colorsWhite, black
   
Main sponsorSegafredo Zanetti
CEOLuca Baraldi
PresidentAlberto Piombo
Head coachLino Lardo
Team captainElisabetta Tassinari
OwnershipMassimo Zanetti[lower-alpha 1]
Websitevirtus.it

The club was founded in 2019, as the women's wing of Virtus Bologna, one of the most important men's basketball team in Europe. Virtus is owned by the coffee entrepreneur Massimo Zanetti.[2]

History

2019–2021: Beginnings and first results

In July 2019, the CEO of Virtus Bologna, Luca Baraldi, announced the opening of a women's basketball wing, to participate in the Serie A1 championship.[3] In the same month, Alberto Piombo, a tax advisor, was appointed president of the women's wing.[4] The 2019–20 season started with some troubles for Virtus, however, it was later cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic.

In the 2020–21, Virtus signed among others Abby Bishop, Brooque Williams and Ana Marjia Begic, while it confirmed many players of the previous season, like the team captain, Elisabetta Tassinari.[5] Moreover, the new head coach was Lorenzo Serventi. Virtus ended the regular season at the fourth place and was defeated in the national semifinals by Reyer Venezia.[6]

2021–present: Zandalasini era

On 20 May 2021, the club signed the 25 years old Cecilia Zandalasini, widely considered among the best Italian players of all time and 2017 WNBA Champion with the Minnesota Lynx.[7] On the same day, president Zanetti announced Lino Lardo as the new head coach. Lardo, who already coached the Black V's men's wing during the early 2010s, is also the coach of Italy's women's national team.[8] The roster was completed within a few days: on 24 May, Virtus signed also Sabrina Cinili, a point guard from Famila Schio,[9] on 27 May Ivana Dojkić, a Croatian shooting guard from UKS Praha[10] on 29 May Myisha Hines-Allen, a small forward from Lattes Montpellier who became WNBA Champion in 2019,[11] and on 30 May Brianna Turner, a power forward from Adelaide Lightning.[12]

Despite good premises, in November 2021 the team was eliminated in the group stage of the EuroCup.[13]

Season by season

Season Tier League Pos. W–L Italian Cup European competitions
2019–20 1 LBF 13th[lower-alpha 2]
5–14
2020–21 1 LBF 4th
20–11
Semifinalist
2021–22 1 LBF
2 EuroCup
RS
2–4

Players

Current roster

Segafredo Virtus Bologna roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.Wt.Age
SF 2 Hines-Allen, Myisha 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 97 kg (214 lb) 26 – (1995-05-30)30 May 1995
PG 6 Pasa, Francesca 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) 86 kg (190 lb) 21 – (2000-05-22)22 May 2000
G 7 Tassinari, Elisabetta (C) 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) 100 kg (220 lb) 27 – (1994-01-28)28 January 1994
G 9 Ciavarella, Giulia 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) 95 kg (209 lb) 22 – (1999-03-09)9 March 1999
SF 11 Tava, Alessandra 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) 109 kg (240 lb) 30 – (1991-09-08)8 September 1991
SF 15 Barberis, Beatrice 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) 104 kg (229 lb) 26 – (1995-11-06)6 November 1995
C 17 Laterza, Maria 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 111 kg (245 lb) 32 – (1989-09-09)9 September 1989
SG 18 Dojkic, Ivana 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) 80 kg (176 lb) 23 – (1997-12-24)24 December 1997
PG 20 Battisodo, Valeria 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) 112 kg (247 lb) 32 – (1989-10-03)3 October 1989
PF 21 Turner, Brianna 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 88 kg (194 lb) 25 – (1996-07-05)5 July 1996
SF 24 Zandalasini, Cecilia 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) 100 kg (220 lb) 25 – (1996-03-16)16 March 1996
SF 46 Cinili, Sabrina 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 100 kg (220 lb) 32 – (1989-04-22)22 April 1989
Head coach
  • Lino Lardo
Assistant coach(es)
  • Jordan Losi
  • Angela Gianolla
  • Giacomo Campanella

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured

Updated: 16 September 2021

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.

References

  1. Majority Shareholder
  2. Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
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