“Her talent is undeniable. She just might be the steal of the draft,” ESPN wrote ahead of the 2018 WNBA Draft, after the Los Angeles Sparks picked Maria Vadeeva (now Kliundikova) as the 11th overall pick. After spending 2 seasons with the Sparks, she went back to Russia and played for BC UMMC Ekaterinburg. However, she’s now back in the WNBA with the Minnesota Lynx, bringing size and experience to add depth to this roster. Beyond her on-court abilities, here’s a closer look at Maria Kliundikova’s personal story, including her background, ethnicity, and nationality.

Where is Maria Kliundikova from, and what is her nationality?

Maria Kliundikova was born on July 16, 1998, in Moscow, Russia, to Olga Vadeeva. The details regarding her childhood and her schooling aren’t publicly available. Maria began turning heads early in her basketball journey with standout performances at the youth level. 

Kliundikova began making a name for herself in international basketball in 2013, when she debuted for Russia’s national team at the FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship. A year later, at just 15 years old, she signed her first professional contract with Spartak Moscow. She spent two seasons with Spartak while continuing to shine on the international stage. In 2014, during her first pro season, she helped Russia win gold at the FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship, marking a major milestone in her young career. By 2015, her momentum continued as she earned All-Tournament honors and led Russia to a silver medal at the FIBA Under-19 World Championship, further establishing her as one of Europe’s top young prospects. After coming to the US, the Russian did not have a great first couple of months. 

She said in an interview in 2018, “The first month was hard for me. I was in another country where everything was different. In addition, I did not know English well. I was lucky, and my teammates provided me with all possible support and welcomed me with true hospitality. They helped to get used to the everyday routine in both basketball and daily life.”

The Russian also had passport issues because of the tense political situation, and missed a few games in the 2018 season, as she could not get an interview for a long time. The wait was difficult for her as she revealed, “Sitting there and waiting was the most difficult part. I did not know either to keep on practicing during summer or to have a rest. Therefore, I had to wait for the embassy to appoint the interview date. It was depressive.”

A 6-foot-4 center, she has spent recent seasons dominating in Europe with UMMC Ekaterinburg, where she played alongside Lynx rookie Anastasiia Olairi Kosu. In the 2022–23 season of the Russian Premier Basketball League, Kliundikova averaged an impressive 11.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and shot 52.3% from the field and 84.1% from the line across 36 games. 

What is Maria Kliundikova’s ethnicity?

Maria Kliundikova’s ethnicity is Slavic-Russian through her parents.

Is Maria Kliundikova Christian? 

There is no public knowledge of Maria Kliundikova’s religious beliefs, and she has not mentioned being Christian in any of her interviews or public appearances. As such, her faith remains a private aspect of her life, and any assumptions about her religious affiliation would be speculative.

Having signed for the Lynx before the start of the season, Kliundikova has made a good impression coming off the bench. In 7 games, the forward is averaging 10.7 minutes per game, while scoring 5.6 points and grabbing 3.1 rebounds. Those are excellent numbers considering her limited playing time. Kliundikova has proved to be a very capable backup to Alanna Smith and Jessica Shepherd in the paint, and her presence could prove to be the decisive factor if the Lynx want to go all the way.