MATOSINHOS (Portugal) - The FIBA U18 Women's EuroBasket 2024 tips off in Matosinhos, with a number of players looking to make a sizeable splash in the Portuguese coastal city.
You can vote below for which player you think will make the biggest impact in this year's competition.
Make sure to also check out who to watch in the Division B tournament, which will be taking place in Ploiesti, Romania.
Iyana Martin Carrion - Spain
GUARD
Birth Date: January 18, 2006 (18 years old) Height: 1.74m (5ft 9in)
A brilliant guard and baller built for the clutch, Carrion is already on the fringes of the seniors. MVP of the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup in Madrid last year after taking Spain to the brink of the title. that came after other MVP accolades at continental level including U16 two years ago. She can score, create and plays with passion and a really enjoyable vibe. The Spaniard has averaged double-digits in points at every FIBA youth tournament and is a class act.
Tjasa Turnsek - Slovenia
FORWARD - CENTER
Birth Date: May 16, 2007 (17 years old) Height: 1.88m (6ft 2in)
There are a lot of talented young Slovenian ballers and Turnsek looks another viable prospect. Her size and mobility makes her stand out and she was a beast at the FIBA U16 Women's EuroBasket 2023 with a double-double of more than 15 points and 10 boards per game. That was transformational compared to her modest youth outings previously. Recently she was also picked for the FIBA U20 Women's EuroBasket 2024 where she gained precious experience of the higher level with modest minutes.
Nell Angloma - France
GUARD - SMALL FORWARD
Birth Date: June 12, 2006 (18 years old) Height: 1.84m (6ft 0in)
Unlike many players on this list, Angloma is not someone who is likely to do much leading in terms of stats or produce many eye-popping digits in general. However, she is someone that France are likely to rely on for a lot of things. She is a really solid and 'coaches' baller who is consistent and impactful at both ends of the floor. Smart, athletic, a scorer and creator, she is the type of player that when she plays well, the team plays a lot better. She'll get big minutes.
Clara Bielefeld - Germany
GUARD - FORWARD
Birth Date: August 28, 2007 (16 years old) Height: 1.85m (6ft 1in)
The MVP of the FIBA U16 Women's EuroBasket 2023 Division B, the forward put her name up in lights. She will want to prove she can do it at the higher level, not only stepping up to the top tier but also an age level. It might prove tough, but she has the skills and temperament to be a hit. Extremely long, versatile and intent on trying to dominate for Germany, she is just great at letting things come to her and using her nice feel for the game.
Clara Silva - Portugal
FORWARD - CENTER
Birth Date: May 31, 2006 (18 years old) Height: 1.98m (6ft 6in)
With tournament double-doubles in the past two years at U16 level and then U18's, there's much to love about Silva even if one of the younger players. She gets it done on the glass, is a go-to scorer and anchor in the paint, blocks shots and always seems to be locked in. Those great attributes should see her accelerated to senior team action soon. Especially as she has already proven her potential at this summer's FIBA U20 Women's EuroBasket.
Awa Fam - Spain
FORWARD - CENTER
Birth Date: June 17, 2006 (18 years old) Height: 1.92m (6ft 4in)
A powerhouse with awesome strength and athletic ability, Fam has already shown the importance of her physical attributes by being crowned MVP of the FIBA U20 Women's EuroBasket 2024. She has also balled at the highest (club) level in EuroLeague Women with Valencia Basket Club. Quick for her size, with nice footwork and impressive on the trail and finishing at the hoop, she's another player many are tipping to make the senior team soon.
Nicole Ogun - Finland
FORWARD
Birth Date: May 25, 2007 (17 years old) Height: 1.83m (6ft 0in)
Always expected to be a leading light at U18 last year, so it proved. She helped Finland take a historic fourth spot and her All-Star Five berth provided clear recognition of her efforts, talent and application. She only just fell short of a tournament double-double with almost 10 points and 10 boards per game. She recently played at the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup in Mexico, helping her team to the Quarter-Final on their first appearance.
Madara Smite - Latvia
GUARD
Birth Date: June 12 2006 (18 years old) Height: 1.73m (5ft 8in)
A quality player who performs so well when wearing her national team vest, Smite does it all in the backcourt. Her consistency is particularly impressive and perhaps underlined by having averaged the exact same 13.4 points per game across successive summer tournaments. A combo guard, she will be a leader and as well as knocking down buckets, she will also be a big contributor passing the rock and doing dirty work on the glass.
Joyce Etute - Luxembourg
FORWARD
Birth Date: July 30, 2008 (15 years-old) Height: 1.84m (6ft 0in)
Turning only 16-years-old just before the competition, Etute is a huge prospect - like sister, Faith. She is used to playing against older players and racked up an astounding double-double of 15.8 points and 18.2 rebounds at the FIBA U16 Women's EuroBasket 2023, Division B. While her impact might be diluted slightly at the older level and the higher tier Division A, she will still pack a punch. A handful down low, it's money if she catches it on the block.
Lena Bilic - Croatia
FORWARD
Birth Date: May 2, 2007 (17 years old) Height: 1.88m (6ft 2in)
A class act, Bilic was largely unstoppable last year at the FIBA U16 Women's EuroBasket in what was her second appearance at the event. She showed out in a big way and finished the competition as the second best in scoring and efficiency - only missing out on the All-Star Five. A do-it-all forward, she just posted almost 16 points per game at the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup 2024 in Mexico, helping Croatia make history.
FIBA