Colorado State University Athletics
Leimane Poised for Increased Role
10/16/2023 1:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Fresh off a European title game, confidence growing in guard
Representing a country on the European women's basketball stage over summer isn't new for Colorado State guard Marta Leimane. The only change was the level which she and her team took themselves this summer: a U20 FIBA European Championship game.
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An unforgettable experience, one from which valuable lessons were learned and self-reflections realized. A spring of confidence before her sophomore year starts at CSU.
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"It was so amazing," Leimane said. "We worked hard all summer, and it was just a really good experience. We didn't expect to go that far, but we fought every game, and it was just amazing, the best possible experience of my life."
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She's played for Latvia four of the past five years at various youth levels, competing for European Championships three times – once at the U16 level and twice at the U20 level.
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The U16 experience in 2019 ended with a two-point loss to Russia in the quarterfinals. Latvia didn't win a knockout-stage game at the U20 level in 2022.
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Then seemingly out of nowhere, Leimane and Latvia fought to a shot at a title with wins against Sweden, Portugal and Serbia to set up a final against France for their first-ever U20 championship game, which France won 85-59.
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"It was very stressful because we walked in and a lot of Latvian fans were out there," Leimane said. "It was full, everyone was there chanting 'Latvia,' I had goosebumps the whole game. We fought until the end, they were just better, but I mean I think it's the best thing we've ever done for basketball (in Latvia)."
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Leimane's competition has been virtually nonstop since the Mountain West tournament in March. First was a breakout performance of sorts in the Rams' sole WNIT game against Northern Iowa, where she scored 17 points in 23 minutes on 7-of-9 shooting, all career highs, in the absence of McKenna Hofschild.
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An opportunity was seized, but it was almost miniscule in comparison to what she was about to do with Latvia.Â
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For Rams head coach Ryun Williams, her experience this summer was the best he could have hoped for all involved. She started in a European final; he had fun watching her. Most importantly, she evolved.
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"It's fun to see her play against that competition and it's fun to see her growth," Williams said. "She's going to have a much more important role on our team this season and I think she's growing into that.
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"It's cool she gets to represent her country. That's the farthest they've ever gone in the European championship, but then also, she's a CSU Ram. So, I'm just really proud of what she accomplished, and I'm excited for her to continue to grow and impact our team."
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Many young players tend to struggle with confidence, but it's the common denominator in terms of what both Leimane and Williams took away from her experience. After a run like that, starting in the final and averaging nearly eight points to go along with two rebounds and two assists, who wouldn't be oozing with confidence?
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Now, it's about converting it into a growing role in the college game. According to Leimane, the intricate differences between college basketball and European basketball are night and day, but the core aspects of the game — defense, IQ, passing and shooting — translate just fine.Â
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Leimane's growth in those areas makes her a more confident player; it also makes Williams much more comfortable in giving her an increased role.
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"I just think she's got to grow into her role," Williams said. "She's someone who can get to the basket, she's got a great midrange game. Defensive is where she can probably impact the game the most early on. She's a solid secondary ball handler for us, although the ball will be in McKenna's hands a lot.Â
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"But I think what she's learning to understand now she's been given more responsibility is she has more responsibility. The detail which goes into her position and what we expect of her has really increased. So, she's got to cut down on the errors and the mistakes which she can control and she's learning to do that in practice."
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An unforgettable experience, one from which valuable lessons were learned and self-reflections realized. A spring of confidence before her sophomore year starts at CSU.
Â
"It was so amazing," Leimane said. "We worked hard all summer, and it was just a really good experience. We didn't expect to go that far, but we fought every game, and it was just amazing, the best possible experience of my life."
Â
She's played for Latvia four of the past five years at various youth levels, competing for European Championships three times – once at the U16 level and twice at the U20 level.
Â
The U16 experience in 2019 ended with a two-point loss to Russia in the quarterfinals. Latvia didn't win a knockout-stage game at the U20 level in 2022.
Â
Then seemingly out of nowhere, Leimane and Latvia fought to a shot at a title with wins against Sweden, Portugal and Serbia to set up a final against France for their first-ever U20 championship game, which France won 85-59.
Â
"It was very stressful because we walked in and a lot of Latvian fans were out there," Leimane said. "It was full, everyone was there chanting 'Latvia,' I had goosebumps the whole game. We fought until the end, they were just better, but I mean I think it's the best thing we've ever done for basketball (in Latvia)."
Â
Leimane's competition has been virtually nonstop since the Mountain West tournament in March. First was a breakout performance of sorts in the Rams' sole WNIT game against Northern Iowa, where she scored 17 points in 23 minutes on 7-of-9 shooting, all career highs, in the absence of McKenna Hofschild.
Â
An opportunity was seized, but it was almost miniscule in comparison to what she was about to do with Latvia.Â
Â
For Rams head coach Ryun Williams, her experience this summer was the best he could have hoped for all involved. She started in a European final; he had fun watching her. Most importantly, she evolved.
Â
"It's fun to see her play against that competition and it's fun to see her growth," Williams said. "She's going to have a much more important role on our team this season and I think she's growing into that.
Â
"It's cool she gets to represent her country. That's the farthest they've ever gone in the European championship, but then also, she's a CSU Ram. So, I'm just really proud of what she accomplished, and I'm excited for her to continue to grow and impact our team."
Â
Many young players tend to struggle with confidence, but it's the common denominator in terms of what both Leimane and Williams took away from her experience. After a run like that, starting in the final and averaging nearly eight points to go along with two rebounds and two assists, who wouldn't be oozing with confidence?
Â
Now, it's about converting it into a growing role in the college game. According to Leimane, the intricate differences between college basketball and European basketball are night and day, but the core aspects of the game — defense, IQ, passing and shooting — translate just fine.Â
Â
Leimane's growth in those areas makes her a more confident player; it also makes Williams much more comfortable in giving her an increased role.
Â
"I just think she's got to grow into her role," Williams said. "She's someone who can get to the basket, she's got a great midrange game. Defensive is where she can probably impact the game the most early on. She's a solid secondary ball handler for us, although the ball will be in McKenna's hands a lot.Â
Â
"But I think what she's learning to understand now she's been given more responsibility is she has more responsibility. The detail which goes into her position and what we expect of her has really increased. So, she's got to cut down on the errors and the mistakes which she can control and she's learning to do that in practice."
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Players Mentioned
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