Gergana Branzova

Gergana Branzova — Biography

Gergana “Gigi” Branzova is remembered as the first Bulgarian player to compete in the WNBA. The 1.93 m basketball player played in Bulgaria, France, Greece, Slovakia and Turkey, was a member of the Bulgarian national team and ended her active career in 2010 at Beşiktaş Cola Turka.

Born in Burgas, she began her career at her hometown club Nephtohimik. In 1993-94 she played for DZU Stara Zagora under coach Boycho Branzov, her father and a legendary figure of Bulgarian basketball, and was voted the season's most valuable player. From 1994 to 1998 she studied at Florida International University in Miami; after graduating she was drafted by the Detroit Shock of the WNBA, becoming the first Bulgarian to play in that league.

She went on to play for Reims in France, Asteras Exarhion in Greece and Kosice in Slovakia, and in Turkey for Fenerbahçe, Migrosspor, Mersin Büyükşehir Belediyesi and Beşiktaş Cola Turka. She is the mother of three children.