Iziane Castro Marques
Encyclopedia
Iziane "Izi" Castro Marques (born March 13, 1982 in São Luís, Maranhão
) is a Brazil
ian professional basketball
player. The six-foot forward is a mainstay of the Brazil women's national basketball team
, and a starting small forward
on the Atlanta Dream
of the WNBA
.
The undrafted Castro Marques was signed by the Miami Sol
as a free agent out of Florida International University
, becoming the youngest player in the WNBA (21 years, 1 month, 12 days) at the time she joined the Sol. The next year she went to the Phoenix Mercury
. In 2005, she joined the Storm, starting for the first time in her career. In the early part of the 2006 season, her erratic play got her benched in favor of rookie Barbara Turner
, but Castro Marques came back strong after eight games in reserve and never relinquished the starting job that season.
On February 6, 2008, Castro Marques was traded by Seattle to the Atlanta Dream
along with the Storm's first round pick in exchange for Roneeka Hodges
and the fourth overall pick in the 2008 draft.
In 2009 Iziane Castro Marques signed a contract with the best Polish team - Wisła Can Pack Kraków
and the 2006 FIBA World Championship for Women
, which Brazil hosted. Star of the squad, she was not included in the roster for the 2008 Summer Olympics
due to her refusal to enter a quarterfinal game in overtime after a verbal altercation with her coach during the FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women 2008
in Spain
. She is currently playing for Villeneuve d'Ascq
in France
during the 2008-09 WNBA off-season.
São Luís, Maranhão
São Luís is the capital and largest city of the Brazilian state of Maranhão. The city is located on Ilha de São Luís in the Baía de São Marcos , an extension of the Atlantic Ocean which forms the estuary of Pindaré, Mearim, Itapecuru and other rivers. Its coordinates are 2.53° south, 44.30° west...
) is a Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. The six-foot forward is a mainstay of the Brazil women's national basketball team
Brazil women's national basketball team
Brazil women's national basketball team is the official women's basketball team for Brazil. They won the 1994 FIBA World Championship for Women in Australia.-Olympic Games:* 1992: 7th place* 1996: 2nd place * 2000: 3rd place...
, and a starting small forward
Small forward
The small forward, or colloquially known as three, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. Small forwards are typically somewhat shorter, quicker, and leaner than power forwards and centers, but on occasion are just as tall...
on the Atlanta Dream
Atlanta Dream
The Atlanta Dream is a professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2008 WNBA season began. The team is owned by Dream Too LLC, which is composed of two Atlanta...
of the WNBA
Women's National Basketball Association
The Women's National Basketball Association is a women's professional basketball league in the United States. It currently is composed of twelve teams. The league was founded on April 24, 1996 as the women's counterpart to the National Basketball Association...
.
The undrafted Castro Marques was signed by the Miami Sol
Miami Sol
The Miami Sol was a women's basketball team which joined the Women's National Basketball Association in 2000. They played their games at American Airlines Arena. The team folded after the 2002 season because of financial problems...
as a free agent out of Florida International University
Florida International University
Florida International University is an American public research university in metropolitan Miami, Florida, in the United States, with its main campus in University Park...
, becoming the youngest player in the WNBA (21 years, 1 month, 12 days) at the time she joined the Sol. The next year she went to the Phoenix Mercury
Phoenix Mercury
The Phoenix Mercury is a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; it is one of the eight original franchises...
. In 2005, she joined the Storm, starting for the first time in her career. In the early part of the 2006 season, her erratic play got her benched in favor of rookie Barbara Turner
Barbara Turner (basketball)
Barbara Renee Turner is an American professional basketball player. She plays for Tarsus in Turkey and formerly the Connecticut Sun of the WNBA. A small forward, she is 6 feet tall and 78 kg weight....
, but Castro Marques came back strong after eight games in reserve and never relinquished the starting job that season.
On February 6, 2008, Castro Marques was traded by Seattle to the Atlanta Dream
Atlanta Dream
The Atlanta Dream is a professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2008 WNBA season began. The team is owned by Dream Too LLC, which is composed of two Atlanta...
along with the Storm's first round pick in exchange for Roneeka Hodges
Roneeka Hodges
Roneeka Hodges is a current WNBA player for the San Antonio Silver Stars. She is the twin sister of former WNBA player Doneeka Hodges....
and the fourth overall pick in the 2008 draft.
In 2009 Iziane Castro Marques signed a contract with the best Polish team - Wisła Can Pack Kraków
International competition
Her national team has finished fourth in two consecutive international competitions, the 2004 Summer OlympicsBasketball at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Basketball at the 2004 Summer Olympics took place at the Helliniko Olympic Indoor Arena in Athens, Greece for the preliminary rounds, with the latter stages being held in the Olympic Indoor Hall at the Athens Olympic Sports Complex....
and the 2006 FIBA World Championship for Women
2006 FIBA World Championship for Women
The 2006 FIBA World Championship for Women took place in Brazil from September 12 to September 23, 2006. It was co-organised by the International Basketball Federation and Confederação Brasileira de Basketball, the Brazilian national federation....
, which Brazil hosted. Star of the squad, she was not included in the roster for the 2008 Summer Olympics
Basketball at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Basketball contests at the 2008 Olympic Games were held from August 9, 2008 to August 24, 2008. Competitions were held at the Wukesong Indoor Stadium in Beijing, China...
due to her refusal to enter a quarterfinal game in overtime after a verbal altercation with her coach during the FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women 2008
FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women 2008
The FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2008 for women took place from June 9 to June 15, 2008. On December 9, 2007, FIBA announced that Spain would host the wildcard tournament....
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. She is currently playing for Villeneuve d'Ascq
Villeneuve d'Ascq
Villeneuve-d'Ascq is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. With more than 60,000 inhabitants, it is one of the main cities of the Urban Community of Lille Métropole and the largest in area after Lille ; it is also one of the main cities of the Nord-Pas de Calais region.Built up...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
during the 2008-09 WNBA off-season.
