Cecilia Zandalasini Bio: Net Worth, Salary, and Professional Career

Cecilia Zandalasini is an international sensational small forward who came into the professional basketball world with a non-traditional approach. This sport was not accessible to her like any other US woman athlete due to a difference in educational format. At 6-foot-1 and 29 years old, the Italian forward has built a reputation for draining clutch threes and locking down defensively. She’s not just a vital piece for the Valkyries—she’s also a standout figure on Italy’s national team. That's why her role in the WNBA is increasing apart from her national commitments. Which means increased increased WNBA minutes for the Italian. Zandalasini brings international flair and experience to the Golden State Valkyries. So let's explore the world of the Italian baller who started late in the league. Moreover, we will also go through Cecilia Zandalasini's personal relationships and much more.

Cecilia Zandalasini's Early Life

Cecilia Zandalasini was born on 16 March 1996, in Broni, Italy. That's where she stayed while growing up and developed her early passion for basketball in the neighborhood. She did not let her sports love take over the need to study and academics. First, she tried her hand in the local youth basketball leagues and clubs. Then she moved across the borders to play in the European leagues from multiple locations. Eventually, when the WNBA scouts determined that Cecilia seemed ready for the highly competitive WNBA court, she accepted the pro-basketball league. That's how she carved her way through the streets of European basketball to the courts of WNBA.

Cecilia Zandalasini Personal Information

Cecilia Zandalasini, better known as “Ceci,” brings poise, skill, and leadership to the Golden State Valkyries. At 6-foot-2, the Italian-born forward has carved out her space in the WNBA with a smooth jumper and high basketball IQ. Born on March 16, 1996, in Broni, Italy, she’s now 29 and one of the more experienced names on the roster. Ceci made her league debut in 2017 and has been a reliable presence ever since—both in the WNBA and as a star for Italy’s national team. Off the court, she keeps a pretty low profile, but she’s in a relationship with Sara Barbieri and often credits her parents, Roberto Zandalasini and Paola Lombardi, for keeping her grounded. She’s reportedly worth between $1 and $2 million and earns around $100,000 a year. Let's take a look at the personal profile of the 6'2" giant:

Cecilia Zandalasini Personal Life

Cecilia Zandalasini's personal life kicked off in Broni, Italy, where she completed her early education through local high school. In terms of social interactions and interviews, there is no great deal of official information from the Valkyries' small forward. However, when it comes to social media platforms like Instagram, Cecilia does foreshadow her personality. She is a beach person who loves to paint during her free time. Even during the lockdown period of COVID, she used to paint at her home. Apart from travel and basketball are the only passions of her from childhood.

Cecilia Zandalasini Parents

Cecilia Zandalasini's parents' names are Roberto Zandalasini and Paola Lombardi. There is not much out in the public regarding her personal life when it comes to her parents. However, in terms of nationality, her parents have imbued Cecilia with the Italian culture where she hails from. Moreover, as per media reports, Cecilia is expected to be related to the royal lineage of Lombardy in Italy. Even her brother is active in sports, but he is also academically inclined. That's why Zandalasini's brother, Andrea Zandalasini, is an architect and building engineer who also plays professional basketball.

Cecilia Zandalasini Girlfriend

Not much is known about Cecilia Zandalasini's girlfriend. However, once a girl, Sara Barbieri, made an appearance on Cecilia's profile in May 2024. After that, there was no going back, and Sara has been posting about her girlfriend a lot on her social media profile. Yet they are expected to be dating as a rumor. Last year, Sara shared a post featuring her girlfriend Cecilia while both of them were enjoying a vacation in the Bahamas. In that post, Barbieri captioned, "We drift apart and then find ourselves closer than before.”

The last post that Sara posted on Instagram in April 2025 featured pictures of her rumored girlfriend, Cecilia Zandalasini. From the photos, it seemed like the couple were in Barbieri’s birthplace. Even the loose translation of the caption meant, “In the part of the world I was born in." That's why the trip had a little hint of Italy.

Cecilia Zandalasini Contract

Currently, Cecilia Zandalasini is on a 1 year, $100,000 contract with the Golden State Valkyries as per SpotSrac data that she signed on January 20, 2025. She might have also bagged deals with the European leagues like the Virtus Bologna and the Fenerbahce in Turkey. However, there is no public information available regarding the financial details of that deal and the particulars of the amount.

Before her current contract, Cecilia was on a short-term and camp contract with the Minnesota Lynx. As per estimations, the fortune in the European leagues is expected to be much more than the WNBA earnings. That's why Cecilia Zandalasini might be earning something between $150,000 and $300,000 per year in Europe and the Middle East.

Cecilia Zandalasini Salary

In 2025, Cecilia is expected to earn $100,000 while playing for the Golden State Valkyries. It is a guaranteed salary; therefore base salary of the contract will remain the same as the original contract amount. Here is a breakdown of Cecilia Zandalasini's salary in the WNBA as per Spotrac data:

Cecilia Zandalasini Net Worth

In relation to Cecilia Zandalasini's net worth, there is no official declaration available about it. However, when it comes to estimation, the 6'2" small forward carries a financial portfolio of about $1 million to $2 million. She might have built endorsement deals with brands in Italy and other European nations. However, there is no credible information regarding her presence in the United States-based brands. Moreover, her net worth also stems from the earnings that she makes from international leagues and European tournaments. In addition to it, she is also ex[ected to be involved in the real estate investments.

Cecilia Zandalasini Career

Cecilia Zandalasini has not gone through an average basketball journey like United States-based students. Rather, she played for the youth basketball teams in Italy. Thereafter, when she gained enough success and fame as a baller in European Women's Basketball Competitions, Cecilia got a chance to test their mettle in the WNBA. Today, we will be exploring how Cecilia Zandalasini carved her basketball career from the local hoops of Italy to the United States and international basketball.

Cecilia Zandalasini Pre-WNBA Career

Instead of going to high school, Cecilia went to play for the Sesto San Giovanni in the Geas Basket league. There, she won the six Italian basketball youth championships to prove her talent. In her first season in 2012-13, Zandalasini tallied 12.6 ppg and 6 rebounds per game in 26 games. Next season in Italy’s second division, Cecilia recorded 15.7 points and 6.1 rebounds per game in 20 games. After that, the 6'2" small forward started playing for the PF Schio in 2014.

In her first season with Schio, she averaged 5.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 33 League A games. She even played the EuroLeague in 2014-15 and recorded 4.3 points, 3.3 rebounds in nine games. Next season in 2015-16, she had tallied 4.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists. This year, her Euro League games tally increased to 15 games where Cecilia dished out above 3 points and 2 rebounds per game.

For her third season with the Schio family in 2016-17, she surged her stats, recording 8.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.5 apg, and 1.50 spg by shooting 45.2% from the field in 22 games. Cecilia Zandalasini's team even won the Coppa Italia and reached the Serie A1 playoff finals. Her squad continued to perform well in the EuroLeague postseason. There, Zandalasini dished out a team-high 13.5 points per game.

Cecilia Zandalasini Overseas Career

In 2012, Cecilia Zandalasini played for the Italian national team at the U17 World Championships. She averaged 8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Thereafter, in 2013 and 2014, Cecilia represented Italy at the U18 European Championships. Her best U18 performance came in 2013 when she recorded 13.9 points and 6.3 rebounds in nine games of the U18 tournament.

Then she played for Italy at the EuroBasket in 2015, tallying 3.2 points and 2 rebounds. Next year, Cecilia Zandalasini brought blessings on the Italy team during the 2016 U20 European Championship. She not only led her team to the Silver medal but also topped the tournament in terms of scoring average. She tallied 22 points, 9 rebounds, and 2.86 steals per game.

Next year, Cecilia represented the Italy team at the EuroBasket 2017. There, Zandalasini earned the All-Star Five honors while dishing out 19.0 points and 9.6 rebounds per game in seven games. Her performance was so impactful that even Jeff Taylor of FIBA termed her "the greatest FIBA EuroBasket Women debut of all time".

Cecilia Zandalasini Professional Career

Cecilia Zandalasini had a late entrance into the league because the Minnesota Lynx had just three regular-season games remaining. In just 18 minutes and 37 seconds of playing time, the 29-year-old small forward recorded two points and one rebound. Ultimately, she won the WNBA Championship in 2017 while representing the Lynx. Then, on February 7, 2018, the Lynx signed her as an unrestricted free agent. 2018 was a breakout season for her since she averaged 5.7 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game.

Next year, in 2019, Cecilia ditched the Lynx for her overseas commitments and ankle injury that she sustained. Between her next stint with the Minnesota, she played for Fenerbahce(2018-2021), a Turkish women's basketball club, and the Italian women's basketball club Virtus Bologna(2021-2024). In 2024, on April 19, the small forward agreed to a training camp contract with the Minnesota Lynx. Cecilia Zandalasini's contract was extended and she ultimately made it to the final team and played all 40 games in the season. In December last year, she was selected for the Golden State Valkyries through the WNBA Expansion Draft. Therefore, she is currently playing for the Valkyries this season. Here are Cecilia Zandalsalani's stats that she has put up so far, as per ESPN archives:

Cecilia Zandalasini Awards and Achievements

Cecilia Zandalasini did not follow the traditional path of success that women players in the United States need to climb the ladder of the WNBA. Rather, she performed with such caliber on the national, youth club level, and international level that the scouts were compelled to take her in as a player. Before that, she had already won the Turkish Super League, Turkish Cup, and Turkish Presidential Cup. Later, when she appeared in the WNBA and returned to play overseas, Cecilia won the Italian Supercup championship. Here are all the accolades that Cecilia Zandalasini received during her basketball career: