2021 Class of FIBA Hall of Fame: Penka Stoyanova

MIES (Switzerland) – The impressive career and achievements of Penka Stoyanova is being honored after the Bulgarian legend was chosen to be inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame Class of 2021.

Stoyanova is being inducted in the Class of 2021 posthumously, along with other legendary players Zheng Haixia (China), Hana Horakova (Czech Republic), Panagiotis Giannakis (Greece), Stanislav Kropilak (Slovakia), Oscar Moglia (Uruguay – posthumously), Detlef Schrempf (Germany), Sergey Tarakanov (Russia) and Mathieu Faye (Senegal) and coaching greats Chuck Daly (USA – posthumously), Tom Maher (Australia) and Ettore Messina (Italy).

A two-time Olympian, Stoyanova featured in a staggering 580 national team games for her country. The pinnacle of her accomplishments was when she helped propel Bulgaria to a historic maiden Olympic medal in 1976, collecting bronze in Montreal while pouring in almost 20 points per game. Four years later in Moscow, Stoyanova and her Bulgarian teammates went one better by leading the nation to their first-ever Final and a silver medal.

The remarkable longevity Stoyanova showed during her career is highlighted by the fact that she appeared in no fewer than eight editions of the FIBA Women’s EuroBasket between 1968 and 1981. The high point came when Bulgaria made the title game in 1972. She was also the centerpiece of a dominant Bulgaria team in the Balkan Games where they garnered eight gold medals.

The skills and impact of Stoyanova also led to her being the first Bulgarian female player to play professionally outside of her homeland.