Lorela Cubaj

Selected No. 18 overall in the 2022 WNBA Draft by the Seattle Storm, and was acquired by the New York Liberty via trade on draft night.

COLLEGE:
Had a decorated five-year campaign at Georgia Tech…Averaged a double-double of 10.1 points and 11.1 rebounds while converting 41.9% (125-298) of her field goal attempts as a fifth-year senior…Her 11.1 rebounds ranked 16th nationally…Earned the ACC 2021-22 Defensive Player of the Year Award for the second consecutive year and was recognized on the Katrina McClain Award watchlist, honoring nation’s top power forward…In 2021, her senior season, Lorela was named the ACC Co-Defensive Player of the Year, All-ACC First Team (Blue Ribbon Panel and head coaches), ACC All-Defensive Team, All-ACC Tournament Team (second), Atlanta Tipoff Club’s 2021 Women’s College Player of the Year, and a WBCA NCAA Division I Coaches’ All-America honorable mention.

INTERNATIONAL:
Was the No. 2 ranked international player by ProspectsNation.com…14th-ranked player in Italy…Competed in Italian Championships three years from 2015-17 and named All-Star Five…In 2017, competed in the FIBA U19 World Championships and FIBA U18 European Championships with the Italian National Team…Named FIBA U16 European Championship All-Star Five in 2015…Helped Italy to a silver medal at the FIBA U17 World Championship in 2016.

PERSONAL:
Lorela Cubaj (pronounced low-rell-UH coo-BYE) coo-BYE) was born on January 8, 1999…Native of Terni, Italy… Has two uncles who played professional basketball… Attended high school at Istituto Paritario G. Parini in Venice, Italy.