Flyers Women Announce Two New Signings

The Spanish guard and England junior are exciting prospects for the Flyers who will add new depth to the team in the final part of the regular season.

Zilbeti brings with her more than ten years of basketball experience. Previously she has competed for Spanish third division side Saski Lagunak and has also played for her native Navarra in the country’s provincial championships. In her time she has played against Spanish internationals Alba Torrens and Marta Xargay.

She joins the Flyers from local rivals the Bristol Storm, whom she captained for the first half of the season.

Speaking to bristolflyers.co.uk, she told of how it felt to be a part of her new club: “I’m excited (about joining the Flyers)… I could see that they are a very strong team. They are very organised and fight for every ball, and I really like that.”

She is also excited about playing in the UK and achieving new things with the Flyers in the next chapter of her career: “I would like to help the team reach the goals they have for this season. Personally I would like to play the playoffs with them and show the other teams that, every game, we are there and fighting.”

"I'm thrilled to have signed Maialen,” says coach Till, “she's a very talented player and will add another dimension to our team.”

“Mai is a natural ball handler with great vision and scoring ability. She also brings a lot of hustle on the defensive end.”

"She has fitted in brilliantly, she shares our ambitions on taking the team and club forward. She will also be involved with our community coaching which will significantly help us in developing our junior girls program."

14-year-old James has been training with the Flyers for the last couple of months in preparation for her England trials and participating in the national camp. She is in line for her first international cap in April.

The James family are no strangers to the Bristol Flyers - her father, Danny, played an integral role in establishing the club, then known as the Filton Flyers, back in 2004.

“We’re delighted to give Molly the opportunity to train and play with us to help her development,” says Flyers head coach Gareth Till.

“If the opportunity arises we look forward to giving Molly her first taste of competitive senior women’s basketball. We want to give more junior girls the opportunity to progress, it’s the next phase of our women’s program.”

Both new signings will be ready for action for the Flyers’ next game, when they will be taking on the Essex Blades at the WISE Arena on the 4th of February.