MADRID (EuroBasket Women/FIBA World Championship for Women) - There have been two important developments for Spain in view of their bid to reach the 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women.

One of the finest players in the history of the game in the country, 36-year-old small forward Amaya Valdemoro, is back on the court and playing basketball again.

The EuroBasket Women 2007 MVP, a two-time Olympian and leader of the Spanish side that captured a bronze medal at the 2010 FIBA World Championship for Women in the Czech Republic, left Turkish club side Tarsus in the middle of the season.

She has joined Liga Femenina 2 side Deportivo del Centros Unico Real Canoe in training in Spain.

"We'll see how things develop and time will tell," Valdemoro said, "but this decision will help me get to the national team in the best condition possible and if necessary, to help a (Real Canoe) team and a club that has always treated me very well ..."

Meanwhile, one of Valdemoro's teammates the previous two seasons at Rivas Ecopolis, Spain center Laura Nicholls, has left the club for personal reasons and returned home to Santander.

It's unclear when, or if Nicholls will return to Rivas.

The club said in a statement: "Of course, the Rivas Ecopolis doors remain open for one of the most important players on the national scene who re-signed last summer as a cornerstone of current Rivas Ecopolis project.

"For the Ripense club, the person is always ahead of the athlete, and we have fully understood the reasons given by Laura Nicholls for a career break."

Nicholls was a vital member of the Rivas side that reached last year's EuroLeague Women Final.

She has played for the national team since the 2008 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women in Madrid, going on to appear at the Beijing Games, two EuroBaskets and the World Championship.

Once the club season is over, Spain coach Lucas Mondelo will gather with the senior team players to prepare for the EuroBasket Women 2013 in France (15-30 June), a qualifying tournament for the 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women in Turkey.

Spain will compete in Group B against Sweden, Russia and Italy.

FIBA