Birna Ingibjörg Valgardsdóttir (born 19 January 1976) is an Icelandic former basketball player who won eight Icelandic championships, in a record twelve trips to the national finals,[1] and five Icelandic Cups. She was named the Icelandic Female Basketball Player of the Year in 2002 and 2004.[2]
 Birna with Keflavík in February 2015. | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 19 January 1976 Sauðárkrókur, Iceland |
| Nationality | Icelandic |
| Listed height | 181 cm (5 ft 11 in) |
| Career information | |
| Playing career | 1992–2015 |
| Position | Small forward |
| Number | 5 |
| Career history | |
| 1992–1994 | Tindastóll |
| 1994–1996 | Breiðablik |
| 1996–1997 | Keflavík |
| 1997–1998 | Grindavík |
| 1998–2015 | Keflavík |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Career Úrvalsdeild kvenna statistics | |
| Points | 5,325 (14.2 ppg) |
| Games | 375 |
Birna was the second player to break the 5000 points barrier in Úrvalsdeild kvenna and is its all-time leading scorer.[3][4] In December 2014, she broke the Úrvalsdeild kvenna all-time record for games played[5] and held that record until March 2023, when it was broken by Sigrún Sjöfn Ámundadóttir.[6]
After difficult injuries during the later part of her career,[7] Birna retired following the 2014-2015 season.[8][9]
Icelandic national team edit
Between 1995 and 2009, Birna played 76 games for the Icelandic national basketball team.[10]
Awards and honours edit
- 2x Icelandic Basketball Player of the Year (2002, 2004)
- 9x Úrvalsdeild Domestic All-First Team (1997, 2002–2006, 2009–2011)
- 8x Icelandic league champion (1995, 2000, 2003–2005, 2008, 2011, 2013)
- 5× Icelandic Basketball Cup (1997, 2000, 2004, 2011, 2013)
- 10x Icelandic Supercup (1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2003-2005, 2007, 2008, 2013)
- 7x Icelandic Company Cup (2002–2004, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2014)
- Úrvalsdeild kvenna all-time career scoring leader
References edit
- ^ "Tólftu lokaúrslitin hjá Birnu". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). April 22, 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
- ^ "Körfuknattleiksfólk ársins 2016 · Gunnhildur og Martin". KKÍ.is. 13 December 2016. Retrieved July 27, 2017. (in Icelandic)
- ^ "Birna bætti stigametið". Fréttablaðið. 28 March 2013. Retrieved July 27, 2017. (in Icelandic)
- ^ Óskar Ófeigur Jónsson (27 March 2013). "Stelpur, nú þurfið þið að hjálpa mér". Fréttablaðið. Retrieved July 27, 2017. (in Icelandic)
- ^ Jónsson, Óskar Ófeigur (December 12, 2014). "Ég er alveg kölluð mamma en rosalega oft bara gamla". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 22 August 2017.
- ^ Óskar Ófeigur Jónsson (10 March 2023). "Allt um leikjamet Sigrúnar: „Geggjað að vera með henni í liði"". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 10 March 2023.
- ^ Daðason, Kolbeinn Tumi (December 17, 2013). "Birna: Þegar ég hætti þá verð ég alveg hætt". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 22 August 2017.
- ^ "Birna Valgarðs heiðruð í Höllinni". Víkurfréttir (in Icelandic). November 26, 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
- ^ "Keflavík heiðrar Birnu Valgarðsdóttur". Karfan.is (in Icelandic). October 20, 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
- ^ "KKÍ | A landslið". kki.is. Retrieved 2017-07-27.