Alexis Peterson is not as often in the spotlight as her colleagues around Leonie Fiebich. The American born is the playmaker of the German team. She has only had the German passport for a year.
Dirk Nowitzki is not the only birthday child during this Eurobasket of the women – the NBA legend was already happy to have serenaded a serenade in the sold -out Hamburg hall at the start of the European Championship on Thursday – also Germany’s playmaker Alexis Peterson celebrated her day of honor a day later. She has become 30 years. Only the almost 3,500 spectators didn’t sang “happy Birthday“, that only bothered the concentration. The took over their teammates in the morning and cake.
It would have been almost too cheesy if the DBB women had hit the favorites from Spain on that day. Instead, the team of national coach Lisa Thomaidis had to admit defeat in his second group game with 79:60. A bitter defeat, now on Sunday a victory against Great Britain, the German basketball players want to create the quarter -finals.
Tremble for nine months to the Olympics
Peterson has only had the German passport since last summer. As early as 2023, the German Basketball Association came to the American native and asked whether she would not be interested in playing for Germany. Peterson agreed, but until it was really that far, it went there. For nine months. It was only shortly before the Olympic Games in Paris was certain: Peterson’s dream of Olympics would be fulfilled. And then it went quickly. In Lillewhere the basketball competitions were held, she was an integral part of the Starting Five.
It was only so shortly before that she was at the Olympics that it was nerve -wracking, said Peterson. Because there was hardly any time to get warm with the colleagues. That has now changed. “I have settled in now”says the 30-year-old. “And when I feel more comfortable on and next to the square, that helps the whole team.” Especially when it comes to the relationship with the other players, Peterson was very good, adds Lisa Thomaidis. “The most important thing is the right chemistry within the team”according to the national coach on the sports show.
Nickname is reminiscent of NBA legend
When Peterson joined the German team, she hardly knew someone personally. The exception: Luisa Geiselsöder. With the international she played for the top club shortly before Basket Land in the French league, where she developed into a top performer. Until then, Peterson had already had a long way. At her college in Syracuse If she was a star, earned her nickname “Pistol Pete“, after none other than NBA legend Pete Maravich.
Germany’s Alexis Peterson defends Andrea Vilaro against Spain
Shortly afterwards, in 2017, a first dream came true. Peterson was selected in the second round of the WNBA draft, but she could not prevail. Instead, she went to Israel, then to Poland and France. Most recently she played for Besiktas Istanbul, the next season she will return ESB Villeneuve d’Scq back to the French league.
Peterson The team’s playmaker
Peterson quickly developed into one of the top performers in the German team. This is that she took over the player position of Svenja Brunckhorst directly with her first assignment for the DBB women, who in turn decided to participate in the Olympics in 3×3 and then won sensationally gold. Peterson’s task: to organize the German game, distribute and defend passes. And, as she adds herself, bring energy into the team. In any case, the national coach was happy to have convinced Peterson from a move to Germany at the time.
It was still the right decision today. “Absolutely. Alexis plays a very important role on the pitch. She is our Starting Point Guard”says the Canadian. “It has to control the pace, distribute balls and score at the same time.” After Leonie Fiebich and Luisa Geiselsöder, Peterson spent most of the time in the previous two games against Sweden and Spain. She is also the best assistant of the German team – with her eight templates in the game against Spain, no German was better in an EM in the 21st century.
Finally the family is there too
Now Peterson is playing in front of a domestic audience. At least that’s how it feels for her, even if it was not born in Germany. Because she would have experienced nothing but love of the German fans, according to the 1.65 meter tall player. “I write a lot of people online. After playing, I also try to talk to them. I wouldn’t have expected that I was being taken up so nicely”tells Peterson. “The fans are also a reason that I feel so welcome here.” And so the US-Amkikanian is still an hour after the game to write autographs and take selfies.
But it is not only the home setting that makes this tournament so special for Peterson. For the first time, her family sees the basketball player playing at a large tournament for Germany. Including specially created fan shirts with which their relatives stand out everywhere. They couldn’t be there yet at the Olympic Games. “That was a bit lonely at the time. But this time they booked their tickets in January”tells Peterson beaming joy. Her mother also had her birthday during the tournament. “Now we can even celebrate together. The world means that they are here and motivates me more.”