George Washington University Athletics
Colonial Connections
8/20/2018 11:12:00 AM | Women's Basketball
GW women's hoops rekindles ties to Spain on foreign tour
BARCELONA, Spain - At the final whistle, Anna Montañana made her way to midcourt and offered a round of hugs to her counterparts on the opposing bench.
The decorated player-turned-trail-blazing coach doesn't much like losing, of course, but she wore a smile after leading the Valencia All-Stars in a 97-73 setback against George Washington last Saturday night. The former Colonial was delighted that her alma mater paid a visit to her Spanish hometown, and the exhibition result was never going to dampen her mood.
"It's more like a fun moment than anything else," said Montañana, who helped GW to three NCAA Tournaments from 2001 to 2005 before a decade-long pro career. "I wish I would have more time with them to be able to talk to them and know more of them, but just seeing the uniforms and having them here, it brings back so many great memories for me."
GW head coach Jennifer Rizzotti targeted Spain for this foreign tour, in part, because of the program's strong connection to the European country. Spaniards Noelia Gomez ('99) and Elisa Aguilar ('00) were key pieces to the Colonials' success before Montañana came to Foggy Bottom and continued the tradition.
This GW squad has enjoyed a few Buff and Blue history lessons on the trip. Aguilar was on hand for the first exhibition game in her native Madrid and met with the group afterward. Then, Montanana was on the opposite sideline for the second one, offering a few words postgame and a tour of the sprawling L'Alqueria del Basket facility in Valencia.
"I want our players to understand the history of GW basketball, the tradition that those two players helped set in terms of winning championships and games in the NCAA Tournament," Rizzotti said. "That's exactly where we want to be in the next couple of years, so it's good for them to learn about the names of the past."
Aguilar remains one of the most decorated Spanish basketball players of all time.
After earning All-Atlantic 10 honors in all three of her seasons at GW, she went on to represent Spain at a pair of Olympics and win five Spanish League titles before retiring in 2013.
In a career packed full of memorable moments, those made with the Colonials still stick out. That was her message to the group after they gathered for a postgame photo.
"When (assistant coach Kevin DeMille) contacted me, I was really excited," Aguilar said. "For me to be part of a program like GW was one of the best experiences of my life."
Aguilar still lives in Madrid where she's Director of Competitions for the Spanish Basketball Federation. She made the short trip to Centro Sportivo eager to see the next generation of Colonials -- and how the Spanish side would match up with them.
"I think the most important thing is it's a great experience for the (GW) players to see a country like Spain and to see we play very good basketball," Aguilar said after GW's 63-58 victory. "And I think for the Spanish teams to see the level of a college team is a great thing, also. The experience for everybody is so positive."
Montañana earned a reputation as one of Spain's most promising coaches since retiring as a player in 2015.
Last season, she became the first woman to join a coaching staff in Spain's top men's league with the club Fuenlabrada. She also works with the country's girls national teams, most recently serving as an assistant for a silver-winning squad at the U-18 European Championship in Udine, Italy, earlier this month.
She credits her time at GW for setting up for success, on and off the court.
"For me, it was an amazing four years," Montañana said. "I always tell players that you have to try to go over to the States because it really opens your mind. It gives you a different mentality."
With a break in her busy schedule before Fuenlabrada's training camp begins, Montañana eagerly accepted the assignment of leading the local squad against GW.
While a Colonial, Montañana would playfully lobby then-coach Joe McKeown to bring the team to visit her homeland. Once she found out it was actually happening, she was eager to have a role - even if it meant taking a loss to the Buff and Blue.
"Thirteen years later," Montañana said with a chuckle, "it's amazing to finally have them in my city and in my country."
The decorated player-turned-trail-blazing coach doesn't much like losing, of course, but she wore a smile after leading the Valencia All-Stars in a 97-73 setback against George Washington last Saturday night. The former Colonial was delighted that her alma mater paid a visit to her Spanish hometown, and the exhibition result was never going to dampen her mood.
"It's more like a fun moment than anything else," said Montañana, who helped GW to three NCAA Tournaments from 2001 to 2005 before a decade-long pro career. "I wish I would have more time with them to be able to talk to them and know more of them, but just seeing the uniforms and having them here, it brings back so many great memories for me."
GW head coach Jennifer Rizzotti targeted Spain for this foreign tour, in part, because of the program's strong connection to the European country. Spaniards Noelia Gomez ('99) and Elisa Aguilar ('00) were key pieces to the Colonials' success before Montañana came to Foggy Bottom and continued the tradition.
This GW squad has enjoyed a few Buff and Blue history lessons on the trip. Aguilar was on hand for the first exhibition game in her native Madrid and met with the group afterward. Then, Montanana was on the opposite sideline for the second one, offering a few words postgame and a tour of the sprawling L'Alqueria del Basket facility in Valencia.
"I want our players to understand the history of GW basketball, the tradition that those two players helped set in terms of winning championships and games in the NCAA Tournament," Rizzotti said. "That's exactly where we want to be in the next couple of years, so it's good for them to learn about the names of the past."
Aguilar remains one of the most decorated Spanish basketball players of all time.
After earning All-Atlantic 10 honors in all three of her seasons at GW, she went on to represent Spain at a pair of Olympics and win five Spanish League titles before retiring in 2013.
In a career packed full of memorable moments, those made with the Colonials still stick out. That was her message to the group after they gathered for a postgame photo.
"When (assistant coach Kevin DeMille) contacted me, I was really excited," Aguilar said. "For me to be part of a program like GW was one of the best experiences of my life."
Aguilar still lives in Madrid where she's Director of Competitions for the Spanish Basketball Federation. She made the short trip to Centro Sportivo eager to see the next generation of Colonials -- and how the Spanish side would match up with them.
"I think the most important thing is it's a great experience for the (GW) players to see a country like Spain and to see we play very good basketball," Aguilar said after GW's 63-58 victory. "And I think for the Spanish teams to see the level of a college team is a great thing, also. The experience for everybody is so positive."
Montañana earned a reputation as one of Spain's most promising coaches since retiring as a player in 2015.
Last season, she became the first woman to join a coaching staff in Spain's top men's league with the club Fuenlabrada. She also works with the country's girls national teams, most recently serving as an assistant for a silver-winning squad at the U-18 European Championship in Udine, Italy, earlier this month.
She credits her time at GW for setting up for success, on and off the court.
"For me, it was an amazing four years," Montañana said. "I always tell players that you have to try to go over to the States because it really opens your mind. It gives you a different mentality."
With a break in her busy schedule before Fuenlabrada's training camp begins, Montañana eagerly accepted the assignment of leading the local squad against GW.
While a Colonial, Montañana would playfully lobby then-coach Joe McKeown to bring the team to visit her homeland. Once she found out it was actually happening, she was eager to have a role - even if it meant taking a loss to the Buff and Blue.
"Thirteen years later," Montañana said with a chuckle, "it's amazing to finally have them in my city and in my country."
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