Maria Kliundikova
Maria Alekseyevna Kliundikova née Vadeeva is a Russian professional basketball player for the Minnesota Lynx of the Women's National Basketball Association. She was selected 11th overall by the Los Angeles Sparks in the 2018 WNBA draft. She is the first player who was born after the WNBA was founded.
Career
Europe
In 2014, Kliundikova began her professional career with Sparta&K Moscow, playing in the Russian [Women's Basketball Premier League|Russian Premier League] and the EuroCup. In 2016, Vadeeva moved south and signed with Dynamo Kursk, still playing in the Premier League as well as the EuroLeague. In the EuroLeague Women|2016–17 season], Dynamo Kursk took home the title.WNBA
Los Angeles Sparks (2018–2019)
Kliundikova was drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks with the 11th overall pick in the 2018 WNBA draft. Kliundikova had some visa issues that didn't allow her to join the team right away. She played in 25 games during her rookie season.On 26 May 2019, Kliundikova made her first career start in the opening game of the 2019 season, a 70–83 loss to the Las Vegas Aces, in which she scored a career-high 24 points. However, she then left the Sparks to represent Russia in the EuroBasket Women 2019. During the competition, she suffered a knee injury and did not return to play for the Sparks until August. Overall for the season, she appeared in 15 games and averaged 7.8 points and 3.9 rebounds per game.
Kliundikova did not return to the WNBA until 2025, with the Sparks still holding her rights. She signed a training camp contract with the Sparks on 13 February 2025. She was waived by the Sparks on 15 May and did not make the final roster.