Elitzur Holon Signs EuroLeague Star Tanaya Atkinson to Strengthen Roster

Elitzur Holon, the Israeli women's basketball runner-up team coached by Roy Lazar, has secured a significant addition to their squad with the signing of American forward Tanaya Atkinson. Atkinson, 30, who stands 1.83 meters tall, arrives after five consecutive seasons in the highly competitive Spanish league, widely regarded as one of Europe's best.

Atkinson began her Spanish career with Araski, where she established herself as a leading forward and earned multiple MVP of the round honors. She later joined Zaragoza, where she was named to the league's best foreign players team, averaging 10.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. In EuroLeague play, she posted averages of 8.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists, while in EuroCup competition she averaged 16.3 points. In 2020, she was honored as the Spanish league's Defensive Player of the Year.

Before her professional career, Atkinson starred at Temple University, averaging 21.1 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, and is considered one of the college's all-time great players. She also played in the WNBA for the Washington Mystics in 2018. In the 2023/24 season, she was a key player for Zaragoza, leading them to the Spanish league playoff finals, the Supercup final, and the EuroLeague quarterfinals, a historic achievement for the club.

Last summer, Atkinson signed with Valencia, the reigning Spanish champions and a top European team, appearing in four league games and three EuroLeague matches before moving to Estepona to finish the season. She now joins a Holon roster that includes players such as Eden Rotberg, Tal Lev, Stasha Carey, Maya Almaliah, Mika Kanitz, Adi Levi, Mia Gdaliahu, and Maya Shalo.

This signing is viewed as a major boost for Elitzur Holon as they aim to compete at the highest levels in Israeli and European women's basketball.