Maria Kliundikova

Maria Alekseyevna Kliundikova née Vadeeva (Russian: Мари́я Алексéевна Вадéева; born 16 July 1998) is a Russian professional basketball player for the Minnesota Lynx of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). 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.^[1]

Maria Kliundikova

No. 77 – Minnesota Lynx
Position	Center
League	WNBA
Personal information
Born	(1998-07-16) 16 July 1998 (age 27) Moscow, Russia
Listed height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight	185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
WNBA draft	2018: 1st round, 11th overall pick
Drafted by	Los Angeles Sparks
Playing career	2014–present
Career history
2014–2016	Sparta&K Moscow
2016–2018	Dynamo Kursk
2018–2019	Los Angeles Sparks
2018–2025	UMMC Ekaterinburg
2025–present	Minnesota Lynx
Career highlights
EuroLeague champion (2017) FIBA U19 World Cup MVP (2017)
Stats at Basketball Reference
Medals Representing  Russia Basketball FIBA U19 World Cup 2017 Italy Team 2015 Russia Team FIBA Europe U16 Championship 2014 Hungary Team

Career

Europe

In 2014, Kliundikova began her professional career with Sparta&K Moscow, playing in the Russian Premier League and the EuroCup.^[2] In 2016, Vadeeva moved south and signed with Dynamo Kursk, still playing in the Premier League as well as the EuroLeague. In the 2016–17 season, Dynamo Kursk took home the title.^[3]

WNBA

Los Angeles Sparks (2018–2019)

Kliundikova was drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks with the 11th overall pick in the 2018 WNBA draft.^[4] 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.^[5]

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.^[6] 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.^[7] 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.^[8] She was waived by the Sparks on 15 May and did not make the final roster.

Minnesota Lynx (2025–present)

On 6 June 2025, she signed an end of season contract with the Minnesota Lynx.^[9][10]

WNBA career statistics

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game	RPG	Rebounds per game
APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game	BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game
TO	Turnovers per game	FG%	Field-goal percentage	3P%	3-point field-goal percentage	FT%	Free-throw percentage
Bold	Career best	°	League leader

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TO	PPG
2018	Los Angeles	25	0	8.2	.527	.333	.750	2.2	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.5	3.6
2019	Los Angeles	15	1	12.0	.490	.313	.769	3.9	0.7	1.0	0.2	1.2	7.8
2020	Did not appear in league
2021	Did not appear in league
2022	Did not appear in league
2023	Did not appear in league
2024	Did not appear in league
2025	Minnesota	11	1	9.7	.514	.333	.667	2.9	0.5	0.8	0.9	0.5	4.3
Career	3 years, 2 teams	51	2	9.6	.507	.324	.735	2.8	0.5	0.6	0.5	0.7	5.0

Playoffs

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TO	PPG
2018	Los Angeles	1	0	3.0	1.000	.000	.000	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	2.0
2019	Los Angeles	3	0	8.3	.100	.000	.000	2.3	0.7	0.0	1.0	0.7	0.7
Career	2 year, 1 team	4	0	7.0	.182	.000	.000	1.8	0.5	0.0	0.8	0.5	1.0

National team

Youth level

Kliundikova made her international debut at the 2013 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship in Bulgaria, where Russia placed sixth. Kliundikova once again participated, returning to the 2014 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship in Hungary, where Russia won the title, taking home their fifth Under-16 Championship. Kliundikova was then named to the national team for the 2015 FIBA Under-19 World Championship in her home nation. Russia would remain undefeated until the final, falling to the United States and taking home silver. Vadeeva was awarded a place on the All-Tournament Team.^[11]

Senior level

Kliundikova made her senior international debut at EuroBasket Women 2015, at just the age of 16. In her debut tournament, Kliundikova averaged 12.3 points per game and 5.9 repounds per game.^[12] Kliundikova was once again named to Russia's roster, for EuroBasket Women 2017 in the Czech Republic.^[13]