2021 Class of FIBA Hall of Fame: Hana Horakova

MIES (Switzerland) – The accomplishments of Hana Horakova have been recognized after the former Czech Republic standout was chosen to be inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame Class of 2021

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

Horakova was the driving force behind her nation’s finest hour when they were crowned FIBA Women’s EuroBasket champions for the first time in 2005 when they beat favorites Russia 72-70 in one of the all-time classic Finals.

The guard led her team in both assists and steals during the tournament. The victory made amends for losing in the title game against their rivals two years earlier when Horakova had to settled for a silver medal.

As well as making two Finals at the Continental level, Horakova was also largely behind Czech Republic making an impact globally – perhaps none more so than in 2010 when she was named MVP of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.

She was outstanding as the hosts made a thrilling run to the Final in Karlovy Vary, taking the second podium step behind the USA. It also resulted in Horakova being named FIBA Europe Women’s Player of the Year.

A three-time Olympian, Horakova also represented her country in Athens (2004) and led the team in scoring, while leading her side in assists in both Beijing (2008) and London (2012).

Meanwhile at club level, she put Czech basketball on the map by lifting the EuroLeague Women title with Gambrinus Brno in 2006. Horakova also collected no fewer than nine domestic titles in her homeland – as well as being crowned a Turkish Champion with Fenerbahce in 2011.