Maya Almalih, one of the standout players in Israel’s girls U18 league and a guard on the national under-20 team, has signed with Elitzur Holon, runner-up in last season’s league. The news was reported by Sports Channel 5. Almalih, 18 and 1.70 meters tall, is considered one of the most promising young players in Israeli women’s basketball.
She developed in Maccabi/Ramat Hasharon’s youth system, where she won the championship last season and was named to the league’s season-best five. She also helped the club’s senior team win the Association Cup in the National League. At the end of the season, she was named the girls U18 Defensive Player of the Year and made the season’s best five after posting averages of 20 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.7 steals and 2.7 assists per game, on the way to MVP honors in the final series.
Almalih has played for all of Israel’s youth national teams, from cadets and girls to the under-20 side. With the girls national team, she was part of a historic run that reached the World Championship for the first time after making the semifinals of EuroBasket in 2024. She is currently on the under-20 squad, which is set to open the European Championship in Lithuania next week.
Holon, which finished last season as runner-up, is aiming to take the final step and win the title in the 2026-27 season. Almalih joins captain Eden Rotberg, Tal Lev and Stasha Carey, who had already signed earlier this summer for coach Roi Lazer’s team.