Ex-Belgian Cat Heleen Nauwelaers will play summer competition in Mexico (Mechelen)

Heleen Nauwelaers (28) from Kangaroos Mechelen will start a tough adventure in a few months. The ex-Belgian Cat moves to Mexico and starts working at Freseras de Lapuato. She works there for a summer season.

“A fun adventure in a beautiful country. The season in Mexico runs until approximately the beginning of August. So I will be back in time to prepare a third campaign with Kangaroos Mechelen,” says Heleen Nauwelaers.

Nauwelaers is an ex-Sint-Katelijne Waver and went abroad for the first time in 2017. She was active in France with Mondeville and in Spain with Bembibre and Clarinos De La Laguna in Tenerife. After five seasons abroad, she returned to Belgium and signed a three-season contract with Kangaroos Mechelen in the summer of 2022. She won the double (title/cup) last season and led Kangaroos Mechelen to cup victory again last month against Castors Braine. She was also voted MVP of the cup final with 18 points and 5 rebounds. On Wednesday she opens the quarter-finals with the Mechelen team (versus Waregem, best of three) of the play-offs and starts the hunt for a second consecutive title. The first women’s class took place in Belgium at the latest at the end of April.

Two bronze medals with Belgian Cats

Heleen Nauwelaers was also a Belgian Cat for many years and won two bronze medals at a European Championship (2017 and 2021). She finished fourth at the 2018 World Cup and took part in the 2021 Olympic Games in Japan/Tokyo where the Belgian Cats reached the quarter-finals. She played 87 times for the Belgian Cats and ended her wonderful career with the national team in 2022.