Nataša Kovačević-Stojaković
Personal information
Born (1994-05-20) 20 May 1994
Belgrade, FR Yugoslavia
NationalitySerbian
Listed height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Career information
WNBA draft2016: undrafted
Playing career2008–2013, 2015–2016
PositionSmall forward
Number7
Career history
2008–2010Partizan
2010–2012Voždovac
2013Crvena zvezda
2013UNI Győr
2015–2016Crvena zvezda
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Women's basketball
Representing  Serbia
European U18 Championship
Bronze medal – third place2012 RomaniaTeam

Nataša Kovačević-Stojaković (née Kovačević; Serbian Cyrillic: Наташа Ковачевић-Стојаковић, née Ковачевић; born 20 May 1994) is a Serbian former professional basketball player.

Standing at 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m), she played in the small forward position for Serbian League teams Partizan, Voždovac, and Crvena zvezda, as well as for UNI Győr in Hungary. She won a national cup with Crvena zvezda in 2016. Kovačević-Stojaković played on the Serbia national team, winning a bronze medal at the U20 European basketball Championship in 2012.

Professional career

Kovačević began her in Partizan in 2008. In the 2008–09 season with Partizan, she won second place in the Serbian League championship. In January 2010, she moved to Voždovac. In the 2010–11 season with Voždovac, she played in the Adriatic League and Serbian League where her team took ninth and fifth place, respectively. The following season, her team was eliminated in the semifinals, winning the bronze medal of the play-off.

By the end of December 2012 Kovačević still played for Voždovac, which played in the Adriatic League. As the club went into financial problems, she moved to become a player of Crvena zvezda in January 2013. With Crvena zvezda, she reached the semi-finals of the Serbian League. In the third-place game series, Crvena zvezda beat Vojvodina with a cumulative score of 190–187, winning the third place. In June 2013, she signed a contract with the Hungarian UNI Győr.[1]

On 7 September 2013, while on the road together with a team of UNI Győr set for the match against UNIQA Euroleasing Sopron, a traffic accident occurred, which killed the coach Ákos Fűzy and general manager of the club Péter Tapodi. As a result of the injury, Kovačević had her left leg amputated below the knee.[2] Following the accident, on 28 February 2014, FIBA Europe has been proclaimed her as an ambassador for young people.[3] On 13 March 2014 she established a foundation that will carry her name, and which, as she said, is established to help young athletes.[4]

In November 2015, Kovačević signed a contract with Crvena zvezda, following recovery from a leg amputation.[5] During this season, has won the Milan Ciga Vasojević Cup and lost in the final of Radivoj Korać. On 9 August 2016, she announced her retirement from her playing career at age 22 and became the president of Crvena zvezda.[6]

International career

During her career, she represented Serbia in several junior age groups: U16, U18, U19 and U20. She took part in the U16 European Championship three times, from 2008 until 2010. Twice she represented Serbia at U18 European Championship in 2011 and 2012; in the second year, winning a bronze medal. She also took part in 2013 in U19 World Championships and once in U20 European Championship.

Post-playing career

On 9 August 2016 she became the president of the Crvena zvezda women's team. In September 2017, she resigned.[7]

Personal life

Nataša's father is Vukašin Kovačević, a former handball player, and her mother is a Natalija Bacanović, a former basketball player who won the Euroleague in 1979 with Crvena zvezda. Her brother is Ivan Kovačević, Serbian diplomat.

In 2021, French President Emmanuel Macron awarded Kovačević with the highest order of France, Legion of Honour.[8]

On 5 March 2022, she married Vuk Stojaković in the Church of Saint Sava, Belgrade.[9][10]

The Ambassador of France to Serbia, Pierre Cochard, handed to Kovačević-Stojaković an National Order of Merit, the French second highest civilian honor, on 14 April 2022.[11][12][13]

References

  1. ↑ Nataša Kovačević i Milica Ivanović karijeru nastavljaju u Đeru
  2. ↑ Stravična nesreća: Srpskoj košarkašici Nataši Kovačević amputirana noga!
  3. ↑ Logičan izbor: Nataša Kovačević ambasador Fibe za mlade
  4. ↑ Osnovana Fondacija Nataša Kovačević
  5. ↑ "Nataša Kovačević licencirana za Crvenu zvezdu". Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  6. ↑ Nataša Kovačević na čelu ŽKK Crvena zvezda! at b92.net (in Serbian)
  7. ↑ "Nataša Kovačević nije više predsednica ŽKK Crvena zvezda". sport.blic.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  8. ↑ "Nataša Kovačević dobila "Orden viteza Nacionalnog reda" Francuske". kss.rs. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  9. ↑ "UDALA SE NATAŠA KOVAČEVIĆ U beloj satenskoj haljini rekla sudbonosno "DA" u HRAMU SVETOG SAVE, bidermajer uhvatila njena koleginica (FOTO)". blic.rs. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  10. ↑ "Sada se preziva drugačije: Udala se Nataša Kovačević, prve fotografije sa venčanja će vas rasplakati". hellomagazin.rs. 9 March 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  11. ↑ "Nataši Kovačević Nacionalni orden Francuske za zasluge". b92.net. 14 April 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  12. ↑ "Dodela odlikovanja Nacionalnog reda za zasluge Nataši Kovačević-Stojaković, nekadašnjoj profesionalnoj košarkašici". rs.ambafrance.org. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  13. ↑ "Nataša Kovačević dobitnica Nacionalnog ordena Francuske". mozzartsport.com. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
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