Maïa Hirsch

Maïa Hirsch
No. 13 – Villeneuve d'Ascq
PositionPower forward / Center
LeagueLa Boulangère Wonderligue
Personal information
Born (2003-11-13) November 13, 2003 (age 21)
Saint-Quentin, Aisne, France
Listed height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Career information
WNBA draft2023: 1st round, 12th overall pick
Selected by the Minnesota Lynx
Playing career2021–present
Career history
2021–2022Charnay
2022–presentESB Villeneuve-d'Ascq
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Maïa Hirsch (born November 13, 2003) is a French basketball player for Villeneuve d'Ascq of the La Boulangère Wonderligue. She was drafted 12th overall by the Minnesota Lynx in the 2023 WNBA draft, in which three French players were selected.[1]

Early life

Hirsch trained at Roannais Basket Féminin and joined the Federal Basket-Ball Center in 2018. She stayed there for a year before returning to play at the Roanne club which plays in NF1 and of which her father, Olivier Hirsch, is the coach. She remained with Roanne for two years.[2]

Professional career

France

Hirsch began her professional career in the 2021–22 season with Charnay in the LFB.[3] She had a relatively successful individual season, averaging 7.4 points and 2.4 rebounds in 20 minutes, though her team finished last in the regular season and in the play-downs and was relegated to the LF2.[4]

Hirsch has played for Villeneuve-d'Ascq since the 2022–2023 season.[5] Hirsch and Villeneuve lost in the qualifying round of the 2022–23 EuroLeague Women and participated in the 2022–23 EuroCup Women, where they made it to the semifinals.[6]

In the 2023–2024 season, Villeneuve won the French title and went all the way to the finals of the 2023–24 EuroLeague Women. However, Hirsch missed most of the season with a foot injury. In June 2024, she extended her contract with the team until 2027.[7]

WNBA

Hirsch was drafted by the Minnesota Lynx with the 12th pick in the first round of the 2023 WNBA draft. However, as of 2024, she has not yet joined the team.

References

  1. ^ Mamou, Shaï (2023-04-11). "Trois françaises draftées en WNBA, une première historique". BasketSession.com - Le meilleur de la NBA : news, rumeurs, vidéos, analyses (in French). Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  2. ^ "Maïa Hirsch (Villeneuve d'Ascq) : La jeune prodige qui a toujours voulu être grande – Basket Europe". BasketEurope.com (in French). 2022-07-23. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  3. ^ "Maïa Hirsch s'engage à Charnay". Le Journal de Saône-et-Loire. 9 April 2021.
  4. ^ "Charnay relégué en deuxième division". L'Equipe. 25 May 2022.
  5. ^ "Kamiah Smalls, Myriam Djekoundade et Maïa Hirsch s'engagent avec Villeneuve d'Ascq – Basket Europe". BasketEurope.com (in French). 2022-06-04. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  6. ^ Darnaux, Sébastien (2023-03-23). "Basket (Eurocoupe) : passée par toutes les émotions, l'ESBVA-LM a vu la finale lui filer sous le nez". La Voix du Nord (in French). Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  7. ^ "Maïa Hirsch prolonge à Villeneuve d'Ascq jusqu'en 2027". BasketEurope.com (in French). 2024-06-19. Retrieved 2024-10-14.