Claire Melia makes history as not only the first Irish woman to play in a European final, but the first player produced by the home system to reach these heights.
The County Kildare native lines out for Spanish side Baxi Ferrol against French unit Villeneuve d'Ascq in the final of the EuroCup Women 2024-25, which takes place at the A Malata Stadium, in Galicia.
Melia's Baxi unit have home court for the first leg this evening, with the second leg of the decider taking place in the north-east French town, close to the city of Lille, on 2 April.
This is not the first team Melia has led to history. In 2017 she was on the Ireland Under-18 team that claimed a silver medal in the European Championships and promotion to Division A for the first time.
She was also named to the tournament All-Star Five for her performances throughout the campaign.
Melia attended St Joseph's University in Philadelphia but returned to Ireland after a few months. A move that proved fruitful as she would begin a sensational run of multiple national cup and league wins with Glanmire and Killester.
Baxi Ferrol head coach Lino Lopez had witnessed Melia's talent shine on the Ireland senior women's team and offered her an opportunity to sign a professional contract.
"I was lucky coming out here," said Melia, speaking to RTÉ Sport. "I have no agent so the coach from here contacted me a few years ago and asked me to come out and play. But it wasn’t the right time for me.
"When Lino contacted me again this year it just felt like it was the right time to go and try it.
"He's an understanding person. He knows there’s more to life than basketball and cares about his players."
While coach Lopez saw the talent, he had to convince the club president to sign the Irish star.
"He had to try to convince the club president for me to come to the club, as obviously Irish basketball wouldn’t be as high as Spanish basketball.
"He was asking my coach, 'Do you really want an Irish player?'.
"Lino believed in me and has given me a chance to come out. So hopefully I have helped prove his point," she laughs over the zoom call.
In her first season as a professional, she has become an integral part of the squad as they entered the FIBA EuroCup for the first time.
"We know we have nothing to lose. We just play with freedom and believe in ourselves," Melia explained.
"We have probably shocked ourselves making it all the way to the final, but in a really good way." she says.
Their marathon run to the final consisted of pre-qualifiers, a regular season, and then four two-legged knockout affairs, culminating in the semi-final against Asvel of Lyon.
During the biggest game in the club's history, against the best competition she has faced, Melia rose to the occasion.
In what would serve as the icing on the cake of the semi-final first leg, Melia scored a hook shot at the full-time buzzer.
That basket not only secured a shock victory, and Melia's 27th point, but a photograph that serves as a signal to the basketball world, Claire Melia has arrived and it's time to take note.
"You’d never think someone from little old Monasterevin would be playing professionally in Spain and travelling around Europe or with the Irish team.
"And to be in a European final, like it’s a bit mad really."
While the Caitlin Clarke effect continues in the United States, the Claire Melia effect has also begun and has already spread beyond the Irish shores to Northern Spain.
Locals attend games waving Irish flags and red wigs. "It’s mad to see the tricolour in the stands. You expect family to pop out from behind the flags but it’s the locals from Ferrol".
"They wear red wigs and some kids dress up as leprechauns.
"They put in a huge effort. They get behind the team and it’s so fun to play home games."
While Melia will be preoccupied with the finals this week in Spain, many have stepped up to help organise an event close to the 25-year-old's heart.
Her mother Shirley and grandmother Christina fundraised for the Irish Cancer Society for over twenty years.
Tragedy struck the family when her mother died in a car accident in 2021, not long after Melia had returned from the States.
Melia’s sisters Sharon and Sinead will host a fundraiser in Monasterevin, and while Melia won't make it home, locals have arranged a venue in the centre of the town.
"Since their passing we have held a coffee morning at home in Ireland every year to raise funds for the Irish Cancer Society.
"Lino’s girlfriend and her best friend have organised the venue for me.
"It’s also my mother’s birthday on the 29th of March, so an even better way of keeping her memory alive, along with my grandmothers."
Melia is a beacon not only for young Irish basketball players with hoop dreams but also for the entire community.
Ireland senior women’s assistant coach Jillian Hayes has coached the international star since 2019.
"Claire has always been an exceptionally talented Irish player," she tells RTE Sport. "But her talent has really shone this year.
"She has adapted to playing at the next level so easily and brought great joy to everyone watching her back home."
Hayes is regarded as one of the best Irish players of all time and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2024. She predicts more success for the upcoming star.
"What she has helped her team achieve this year will go down in basketball history books.
"I’m delighted for her, to have achieved so much in such a short spell of time."
At 25, she has many more years to continue to develop and shatter many more ceilings on the European or world stage".
The next glass ceiling awaits and could be shattered this evening at 7pm (Irish time).
Watch live on the FIBA Basketball YouTube channel
