Paola Mauriello, the former Azzurri player, has died. She won a Scudetto with Napoli.

The basketball world is in mourning. Former Italian national team player Paola Mauriello has died in Pescara at the age of 44, after a long illness. Originally from Benevento, she won gold for Italy at the 2009 Mediterranean Games in Pescara. At club level, she won a league title (2006) and a Super Cup (2007) with Napoli Vomero . In Serie A, she played for Faenza, Ragusa, Parma, and Ribera. She recently participated in "Free Yourself," the FIP's coaching course, a testament to her dedication to basketball and life, as she sought new goals. She was currently a Regional Councilor for the Abruzzo Regional Council with responsibility for the women's movement.

The memory of the basketball federation

"Paola, sweet Paola, you have left us. At only 44 years old," the Italian Basketball Federation wrote in a statement. "The FIP president, Giovanni Petrucci, shares the family's condolences both personally and on behalf of Italian basketball." The funeral will be held tomorrow in Francavilla al Mare, at 5:00 PM, at the parish of Sant'Alfonso.