Anna Cruz: “I'm proud that I haven't lost my essence.”

Anna Cruz ( Barcelona , ​​1986) has concluded a wonderful career this season. The second Spanish player to win the WNBA, and with 158 matches played for the national team, looks back on her career and experiences with 'La Vanguardia,' where she took her first steps.

Have you always played basketball?

At school, I did swimming and track and field as extracurricular activities, and at the time, I also played basketball. In fact, the track and field coach met with my parents because he said I could dedicate myself to running the 1,500m and give up basketball... but I was bored running alone.

Has women's basketball grown since its beginnings until now?

When I started playing basketball, I played on a school team, Maristas Ademar, and there wasn't a girls' team for my age. I had to play with boys, and I was the only girl on the team. I don't think this happens anymore; in other words, a six-year-old girl who wants to play basketball has a thousand opportunities to find a girls' team in her city and be able to play with girls. I think there's been a huge evolution in the youth system and in creating role models. For example, at La Penya, you can have role models within reach, and I didn't have that because there was no visibility or access. Now we can generate that excitement and motivation so they want to be like us.

The growth of women's basketball “Now we can generate that excitement and motivation so they want to be like one of us.”

She started professionally at UB Barça and returned to Barça CBS years later, after two projects were dissolved. What does Blaugrana women's basketball need to enjoy more continuity?

Not just Barça. I think it would be great if all the ACB teams that already have a solid infrastructure also invested in having a women's section and women's sports. What's happened with Barça is that it's not exactly their exclusive project. I mean, I think it would be great to do something your own, take care of the product, and dedicate time to it so it can truly grow. It's much more complicated to do it halfway.

And after a few years in Spain, you moved to Russia. How did the opportunity arise?

I haven't been much of a fan of changing teams every year, but at that moment I wanted to try a different league because I'd been here for so many years. When it came up, I had to look at the map to find the team because Russia is huge (laughs). Russian culture is very different, and I got to be at -27 degrees, imagine... The first two weeks were really tough, and my life was reduced to basketball. Without a doubt, the hardest thing was not being able to communicate with people. In the end, I said, look, I'm going to start learning Russian because this can't happen; I need to express myself and be understood a little. It was a really good experience: I went for one year and stayed for six.

She's the only Spanish player after Amaya Valdemoro to win the WNBA. Did you have those expectations?

No way... in general, I've never had many expectations in my life. I haven't had many dreams, not even as a professional. Honestly, I saw everything as much simpler because I was doing something I loved when I was a kid. I've been making my own way, and in the end, many things don't depend on me; there are so many factors. Once you're in, obviously, yes, but I personally have never set the goal of having to go to the WNBA and win a ring. That was crazy to me; I didn't even think about it. In the end, things have happened, I think, also because of perseverance, hard work, and trying to contribute something different to others.

For example...

When I arrived in the WNBA, I said, "Oh my God, nobody pressures the ball here." So I started pressing all over the court, which is what I did on my team. It was something they weren't used to seeing there, and I fit in. I recognize that you have to have that bit of luck, since at that time the American league was very closed to foreign players, and it was very difficult for a European to make it on a U.S. team. You also have to find just the right coach who sees something different or special in you and decides to take a chance.

Farewell to the national team “I didn’t have the strength to live through those situations and I put myself before myself.”

After numerous successes with the national team, you decided to retire from playing on a free transfer. Looking back on your career, was the aftertaste of your departure bitter?

It was a very difficult time in my sporting career, because in the end, everyone wants to be on the national team. Giving up something you've fought for your whole life is tough, especially if it's for non-sporting reasons. Psychologically, I didn't have the strength to continue living through those kinds of situations, and I put myself first, putting the person before the player. Even so, I'm proud of everything we achieved with the national team and I'm left with the wonderful experiences we've had.

Have you needed psychological help to learn how to cope with bad times?

I've had quite a few psychologists throughout my career because, ultimately, you need help in that regard. There was a time when I was very alert, and I wasn't like that at all. I don't expect people to go around causing harm for no reason, and at that time, I wasn't feeling like myself. In the world of sports, as a general rule, you have to experience tough things that you have to learn from. In the end, only the good things appear here, but behind a sports career, there are many things that aren't shared, and it's important to surround yourself well during those times with people who know how to help you.

What are you most proud of in your career?

I'm proud of not having lost my core. In the end, I started playing basketball without thinking about anything other than the game I had that week or training; I never thought I'd go so far. I'm proud of never having lost my enthusiasm and of having kept fighting. In such a long career, there are many ups and downs.

The last season “It’s the best ending I could have had because I’m retiring at the club where I grew up.”

And the final touch was at home...

I was planning on retiring last season. In fact, I had already put together my farewell video and everything, but I was struggling to take the final step. Then I started talking with La Penya and the excitement returned. I think this is the best ending I could have had because I'm retiring at the club in my hometown, where I grew up and started playing at six. I wanted to retire feeling like a player and contributing. Being able to close out my career with my family has been the happy ending of a fairy tale.

Now what?

First, I'm going to rest a little because I need it physically and mentally, but I'm clear that I want to stay involved in basketball.