Burlakova Natalia

About

Natalia Burlakova (born December 8, 1984, in Chișinău) is a former professional basketball player whose career has been closely linked to women's basketball in Romania. A guard, standing approximately 1.75 m tall, Burlakova has been a constant and experienced presence on the National League courts for over a decade. The early stages of her career in Romania were marked by her collaboration with Olimpia Bucharest (in the 2005 and 2009 seasons), but her name became synonymous with the tradition of the Rapid Bucharest club. The basketball player played for the Giulești team for 12 years, becoming a central pillar of the team. Throughout her professional career, she made 223 appearances in the top national league, demonstrating rare longevity and consistency, with a total of 10 seasons in the first division and one in the second. Her playing style was characterized by high efficiency and a good ability to contribute to both phases of the game. In her last season of activity, before announcing her retirement, Burlakova recorded impressive statistical averages: 11.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game, maintaining an active leadership role on the team. Her final official match underscored her status as a decisive player: in a game against ACS KSE Târgu Secuiesc, she was her team's best player, scoring 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals. In addition to her club-level performances, Natalia Burlakova was also part of the international basketball circuit, being included in the Moldovan national team. Her retirement from sports marked the end of a remarkable era for women's basketball in Romania, and she remains in the memory of fans as a dedicated player, capable of taking responsibility in difficult moments of games and guiding her team through her accumulated experience of over 12 years of career under Rapid's colors.