Rūta Stiprā moves to the White Rose City basketball club
Latvian basketball player Rūta Stiprā is continuing her career in Lithuania, joining the Alytus club. The power forward has previously played for teams in both Šiauliai and Klaipėda.
Latvian basketball player Rūta Stiprā will spend her upcoming season with the Alytus club, known as the team from the "White Rose City." This marks her fifth consecutive year playing in Lithuania.
Stiprā's Lithuanian league career has unfolded in two stints — she represented Šiauliai/Vilmers during the 2022-2023 and 2025-2026 seasons, while playing for Klaipėda's Neptūnas club from 2023 to 2025.
Bronze medal with Šiauliai
Last season, Stiprā, alongside teammate Sabīne Lipe and assistant head coach Ģirts Splītis, helped Šiauliai/Vilmers win bronze at the Lithuanian championship. In the third-place series, the team defeated Klaipėda's LCC International University 3-1.
In the Women's Lithuanian Basketball League, Stiprā averaged 21 minutes and 43 seconds per game, scoring 7.5 points and grabbing 4.6 rebounds. She drew an average of 1.9 fouls from opponents per game, and her efficiency rating reached 9.7.
A tough debut season for Alytus
The Alytus club made its top-league debut last season. In the regular season, the team finished eighth with a 4-14 record, then fell to favorites Vilnius Kibirkštis in the quarterfinals. Former Liepāja player Kriste Timofejeva (Druskite) serves as the team's head coach.
