RENO, Nev. - Former point guard Dellena Criner, one of the most decorated women's basketball players in Wolf Pack history, recently finished playing her first professional basketball season in Poland.
Criner, who played for PTS Lider in Warsaw, Poland, became the Pack's first professional women's basketball player since Kate Smith in 2003 and the fourth in program history.
"Overall it went well," Criner said of her first professional season. "I talked to a lot of people who went over before and who were currently over there, so I think that prepared me pretty well. It was not exactly what I expected. I went over there with an open mindset, so I was adapting to a lot of the things I experienced. Some of the most challenging things I experienced were the idea of me being the foreigner in a different country and how I felt, the different food, the communication amongst people, teammates and coaches."
While in Poland, Criner said the team practiced twice a day and lifted weights.
"From 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., we lifted weights. Weights are different over there because nothing was in pounds so it's pretty much guessing what you wanted to push yourself with," Criner said. "Then we practiced from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. After practice I'd go home, shower, eat, and rest. We practiced again from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and then usually, depending on what time it was in America I would talk to people and try to catch up on things."
Criner (2005-09), who ended her career at Nevada as one of the most decorated players in school history, was a two-time WAC Defensive Player of the Year, a three-time All-WAC First Team selection, a three-time Academic All-WAC honoree, a two-time WAC All-Tournament team selection, a 2008-09 Lowe's Senior CLASS nominee and a regional finalist for the NCAA Division I State Farm Coaches' All-America Basketball team as a senior.
She ended her career first in career steals (271), second in free throws made (551), third in career assists (374) and fourth all-time in career scoring (1,629).
Criner is hopeful she can continue her dream of playing professionally. Until the new season starts in September, Criner is working on putting together highlight films for teams to see.
"I want to play again next season, which begins in September. I am able to play again, the only issue is finding a team," Criner said. "Currently, I am getting together my overseas highlights from game films so they can be posted on You Tube and sent overseas to teams. I can find out if a team is interested from now until two days before they want me there, it all depends on the team and how much money they have, to how soon they can fly me out, and how much they are willing to pay me, to make things happen."
Since returning from Poland, Criner spent time in Los Angeles visiting family and in the Bay Area visiting friends. She also works in Reno at Dotty's as a food and beverage auditor. In addition, Criner has been working out at Lawlor and plays in a ProAm league in San Francisco.
Since graduating from Nevada in 2009, Criner has kept in touch with many of her teammates. As for her future plans, Criner just wants to keep playing.
"I plan on getting ready for the upcoming season and competing again," Criner said. "I am not so stressed as to when I leave because I have that first year under my belt and Poland is one of the top countries in competition so it gives me a little bit of an edge."
