Israeli prospect Maya Zilbershlag will pursue college route

Israeli women’s basketball player Maya Zilbershlag has decided to pursue the college basketball route, she told On3. The 5-foot-10 versatile guard is currently a junior in Israel and plans to begin college in 2026. 

In the 2024 FIBA U16 Women’s EuroBasket, Zilbershlag averaged 18.9 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3 assists per game. This season for Hapoel Kfar Saba in Israel-Division A, she’s averaging 8.3 points and shooting 41% from the field while going up against former college stars and WNBA players.

“I started to take basketball seriously and it’s always been my dream to go to the WNBA. I think college is a really great way to improve my game and to develop and to learn basketball in the United States.” 

Zilbershlag told On3 that playing professionally and against high-level European talent has improved her game immensely. 

“We played against really good girls from Europe,” Zilbershlag said. “Everyone learned how to be faster, stronger and not to be afraid of anyone. Now, I play in the first league here in Israel, so we have American players, which is really nice. At practice and games, we get better because we play against them and they push us to the highest level.” 

She’s a versatile threat but is still working on a few aspects of her game. 

“I really like having the open court to run and make easy baskets in transition,” Zilbershlag said. “I like to play the pick and roll, to pass and create for myself and for others. I think I’m still working on my 3-point shot and shooting off the dribble. I want to improve that.” 

While Zilbershlag has excelled in Israel, she’s prepared to play a different style of basketball in America. 

“I have a good friend that played two years in high school and now she plays in college, and she told me that the most different thing in the US is the game itself,” Zilbershlag said. “It’s more one-on-one in American basketball. In Israel, I think it’s more like a team with a lot of passes and cuts. Of course, the other part is that you’re away from home and the school and the new language, but she told me that it’s easy to learn after a month or two of getting used to it.” 

The biggest factor for Zilbershlag in choosing a program is its ability to get her WNBA-ready. 

“The most important thing is a place where I can really develop my game and improve my game,” Zilbershlag said.”That’s the most important for me, and I especially want to get to the WNBA. That is the dream, so the place that can help me get there and to be at my best.”

Zilbershlag’s agent, Yuval Shaham, told On3 that she plans to set visits for this summer.