Triple threat
Thursday, April 14, 2011 
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Triple threat
Shay Doron says experience was the difference in her and Ramle's record-breaking season
By Arie Livnat
At the age of 26, Shay Doron is now more experienced, plays a more varied game and is more confident in her abilities "when I make the right move." One such move was returning to Ramle although there is no certainty that she will stay there next season.
It was extremely difficult to reach Doron two days ago, after the victorious third game in the women's Super League playoff series between Elitzur Ramle and Maccabi Ashdod. After Ramle secured an historic triple crown of trophies, everyone wanted to speak to Doron. Almost all the 2,000 present in the Kiryat Menachem arena wanted her - to wrap her with love, hug her and be photographed with her.
Doron has become a sporting icon. "Something special is happening in Ramle," she says. "It's important for me to connect with the fans. I play basketball because I love the game, but I also want to play for others. It's depressing to play in front of an empty arena, and in women's basketball that is not uncommon. This season the number of spectators is lower than it was three years ago, when I last played here. Then the stands were overflowing for the championship game. Some people who come don't like basketball, but they like me and other players, and that way get involved in the game. In Maryland I also got connected to the fans. When I started playing at the college 200 people would show up. When I finished four years later the crowds numbered 17,000. It wasn't because of me - all the players had a connection with the fans."
Do you receive the same kind of attention outside Ramle?
"Since we won the Eurocup I have felt a difference, but when I won the [NCAA] championship with Maryland people started to approach me in the street. I think I get more media attention than any Israeli sportswoman, except for maybe Shahar Peer."
Can you compare your success with Ramle and with Maryland?
"It's very similar. After winning the Eurocup I got so many telephone calls that I couldn't make a call myself. I had to charge my phone four times a day. After I was chosen for the WNBA Draft in 2007 my phone didn't stop ringing."
Was winning three titles due to team work?
"The biggest achievement was winning the Eurocup. Any team could win the State Cup, and we had to win the league, but to do that after winning the Eurocup was not simple. We had to take injured players who were mentally exhausted after reaching the record not only of the season but their careers, It's really difficult to raise your game two days after winning the Eurocup."
Are at the height of your career.
"I feel that right now I'm doing a little of everything, not just scoring. I no longer feel that the greatest challenge is to score baskets. I don't care if I score only two points - the important thing is that the team wins. The change in my game is the result of experience, I have improved my understanding of the game and have confidence that I am doing the right thing.
Where do you plan to play next season?
"It's too early to say. I won't decide in the near future. My preference is to stay in Israel, but I'll have to see what offers I receive."
Read in Hebrew:
http://www.haaretz.co.il/hasite/spages/1224588.html