Mawuli has become Avenida’s main offensive reference since her arrival. After four league games, the Japanese power forward leads the Salamanca side in both scoring and valuation, averaging 14.25 points and 20 credits per game. Those impressive numbers make her the fifth-highest-rated player and the eighth-leading scorer in the entire league, highlighting her impact on the new project led by Raquel Romo.
As a result, Carlos Cantero will have to find a way to stop a Japanese player he knows so well from the past two seasons and who can contribute from different areas of the court, particularly from the free-throw line. She has visited it frequently during this early part of the season, drawing as many as 21 fouls in just four games. In addition, because of all this and, above all, because of what she contributes to her team, Mawuli is the most-used player on the roster of the most decorated club in the history of Spanish women’s basketball.
Mawuli spent the past two seasons with Casademont. Photo: Pilar Álvarez
Even so, the Japanese player’s performance has not been enough to prevent an uneven start to the season for Avenida, which, although it has yet to lose an official game at home, has two wins and two defeats. The Salamanca side have won both home games, against Cadí La Seu (73-57) and Inversus Gernika (86-58), while they have lost on the road to Valencia Basket (82-57) and Impulso 360 Estepona (81-67).
HER TIME IN ZARAGOZA
Thus, the reunion will carry special significance for a Japanese player who made 114 appearances for Casademont over two seasons and was an important part of Carlos Cantero’s plans. During her time at the Aragonese club, Mawuli also won a Spanish Super Cup, claimed bronze in the EuroLeague and finished as league runner-up twice.
After learning that she would leave Zaragoza this past summer when her contract expired, the Japanese player offered an emotional farewell: "I want to thank the fans and my teammates, who have always helped and supported me, even during difficult moments for everyone. I love this city and I will miss you all very much."
