Amaya Valdemoro hopes the Year of Women`s Basketball project can help raise awareness of the game in Europe to the level currently being experienced in Spain.

		Amaya Valdemoro during EuroBasket Women 2005

Spain will be well represented in Wednesday`s EuroLeague Women`s All Star Game in Pecs, with Laia Palau and Elisa Aguilar joining Valdemoro in the European team.

The contest will signal the start of an 18-month initiative, run by FIBA Europe, which aims to increase participation and the popularity of the women`s game as well as raise its profile.

Valdemoro, the VBM-SGAU Samara forward, wants to see Spain act as the benchmark for other European countries to emulate.

"In Spain, women`s basketball has always been popular but the last four years have been important for us and it has become even bigger," she told PA Sport.

"The fact that there are three Spanish players playing in the All Star game shows how much it has improved in our country.

"We feel the game is getting better and better and is becoming more recognised every year. And the Year of Women`s Basketball project can only help with this."

		“	If our game is shown more on TV, it will really help	„
		Amaya Valdemoro

Valdemoro believes more and more youngsters will start participating in the women`s game if the sport is exposed more on television.

"If our game is shown more on TV, it will really help," she added. "The internet has done a lot for us but it will be better for us if the games start to be broadcast on TV so it is easier for youngsters to see more of us."

The 29-year-old`s superb form for the Russian giants this season led to her being called up to represent Europe.

And she is delighted to have been selected to take part in the first-ever women`s All Star Game.

"I`m very happy to be here. These kind of games will raise awareness of women`s basketball and we will try to make it entertaining for the crowds. I can`t wait."