According to published reports, the Calella native could leave the Zaragoza club imminently or delay the decision until December. However, her departure would have to be completed through a contract termination, with a buyout clause paid, as Mariona signed an extension through 2027.
The captain leaves an impossible void to fill, both athletically and emotionally, as the face of the project. Photo: Lucía Martín
In this way, the Catalan point guard would join one of the competitions expected to attract the most attention, as it will be played from January to April 2027 and will bring together players such as Leo Fiebich and Awa Fam. In addition, one of the tournament’s main incentives for professional players is the million-dollar salaries it offers, while its schedule does not conflict with the WNBA. It appears that Mariona will be one of the 66 players to take part in Project B’s inaugural season, although more than half of them have yet to be announced in the months remaining before January 2027.
A MAJOR BLOW TO THE PROJECT
Mariona Ortiz is the face of Casademont Zaragoza and the voice of the locker room, both on and off the court. Since arriving in 2022, she has become the leading figure in a project that has competed to improve year after year, eventually breaking into the ranks of Europe’s best teams.
The captain’s departure, whether now or in December, will directly affect the interests of a red-and-black team that wants to continue competing for titles in such a special year as its 25th anniversary, while also hosting the Copa de la Reina and the EuroLeague Final Six. Her exit is a blow to the jaw for the Aragonese side, both athletically and emotionally.
Cantero and Oma are the only remaining links to the project that made its definitive breakthrough in 2023. Photo: FIBA
The Calella native will be extremely difficult to replace on the court, because few point guards can match Mariona’s level or are so firmly established within a system that already revolves around her. Emotionally, it is even more difficult because Carlos Cantero’s on-court extension and the leader of a team that always carries the load on its shoulders when needed are both leaving. She has embodied the club’s fighting spirit since her arrival. Casademont Zaragoza will have to make a move to find a replacement, which is far from easy at this stage, as Laia Flores will be the only available point guard on the roster.
The project that brought joy back not only to basketball fans but also to an Aragonese capital in need of it appears to be entering its final stages. Carlos Cantero, in his sixth year on the bench, and Helena Oma, in her fifth season with the club, are the remaining links to a team that made people dream and raised those dreams to unimaginable heights for anyone in Zaragoza.
