Prestige and a unique opportunity, Joklová says of the World Cup. She would leave the tough group to others

Eliška Joklová does not show what she has gone through in recent months. The Czech national team’s key playmaker has moved from Brno to the United States, completed a training camp with the Minnesota Lynx and adapted to demanding workouts and more extroverted American habits.

Now, seated comfortably in a hotel in Berlin, Joklová is preparing to lead the Czech team into the World Cup. The tournament begins for the Czechs on Friday against Italy.

For Joklová, the championship represents prestige and a unique opportunity. She would rather leave a difficult group to someone else, however, as the competition brings another demanding challenge after a period of major change in her sporting and personal life.