Most Americans are familiar with Shay Doron by now, since Maryland tasted victory in the NCAA last year, but women’s basketball is also thriving in Israel.

There are 10 teams in the Israeli Women’s Division I, which features such players as Shiri Sharon, an Israeli who played her college hoops at Duquesne and remains the school’s all-time assist leader with 659.

The teams also have “foreign” (American) players like Michelle Campbell, recently released by Ra’anana. Campbell, a six-foot, two-inch guard, is a product of Rutgers University. In her six games with Ra’anana, she averaged 11 points and five rebounds in 28 minutes.

So, what is it like to be a non-Jewish African-American playing basketball in the Jewish state, and how has she acclimated to her new surroundings? The congenial Campbell said, “It’s a different culture. You’ve got to try different things — food, etc.” Comparing the Israeli league to her college experience, she explained, “Here it’s more of a quick passing game and a short shot clock. It’s just a different game — more is depended on you here than in college.” Her highlight at Rutgers was going to the “Elite Eight” in the NCAA tournament earlier this year. In retrospect, the best thing in New Jersey was “just being with my teammates — our team was like a big family.” It seems as though she has already joined the Israeli family.

Other American players include Jia Perkins, a former member of the WNBA’s Chicago Sky, and DeTrina “D Train” White, who played at Louisiana State University and pro ball with the New York Liberty.

The league also includes bosman (European National) players, like Tatyana Troina, who hails from Belarus. Young Israeli players, who are just barely beyond their teenage years, like 21-year-old Ayelet Cohen, round out the rosters. Top foreign players can command salaries of $50,000 to $70,000.

Besides the regular league games, there is the State Cup tournament. In addition, the top women’s teams play in European leagues, just like the men’s teams. The top Israeli citizens may be selected to play on the national team as well.

Like the WNBA, Israeli basketball for women is having a difficult time making a go of it. Admission to most games is free. Most arenas have a seating capacity of around 1,000, but an average game only draws around 250 die-hard fans. And although many games are televised on Israel’s sports channel, most of the players are virtual unknowns. While soccer fans are mostly teenage and adult males, women and children make up the majority of those who attend the women’s games. The most popular teams are Maccabi Ramat Chen, Hapoel Tel Aviv, and Anda Ramat HaSharon. Anda will play an exhibition against the Mystics of the WNBA on May 13, 2007. Although the men’s Maccabi Tel Aviv has played several exhibition games against NBA teams, this will be the first such event for the women.

More information on basketball in Israel.