Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut agreed terms with Angola icon Italee Lucas after her WBLA resurgence, adding championship pedigree, leadership and scoring punch following APR success, AfroBasket adversity, and a standout third-place continental finish in Egypt during the campaign.
Last Updated on
January 16, 2026
Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut agreed terms with future African basketball Hall of Famer Italee Lucas. The New Year move followed an uneven 2025 for the 37-year-old guard.
In July, Lucas and the Angola national team finished 10th at the FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2025 championships in Côte d'Ivoire, well below expectations.
During that campaign, Lucas averaged 12.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, and four assists per game, whilst shooting 31.7% from the floor; numbers that reflected Angola's broader tournament frustrations.
However, momentum shifted months later when Lucas sparked APR's flawless run in the Women's Basketball League Africa (WBLA) qualifiers. Across six games, the veteran guard averaged 15.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 6.2 assists for APR. That leadership helped power APR to a 6-0 record, restoring belief and rhythm after AfroBasket disappointment earlier that summer.
Confidence carried into the Women's Basketball League Africa finals staged later in Egypt. There, the UNC alum, alongside 2025 WNBA champ Kirsten Bell, Rwandan crossover queen Destiney Philoxy, and Senegal star Yacine Diop, guided APR to a second straight third-place finish.
During the demanding WBLA championship run, she averaged 17.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game.Those 17.3 points marked her third-highest WBLA career average, underscoring enduring elite productivity despite externally voiced mileage expectations.
Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut now add championship experience, leadership, and an edge ahead of their lofty ambitions for their upcoming 2026 WLBL season. The 2011 WNBA second-round draft pick will also link up with American forward Sarah Boothe, strengthening the overall squad.
[Photography Courtesy of FIBA]
