KLAIPEDA / VILNIUS (Lithuania) - The FIBA U20 Women's EuroBasket lands on Lithuanian soil for its 2024 edition with a number of exciting rising stars ready to shine.
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 Sofia, Bulgaria.
Matilde Villa - Italy
GUARD
Birth Date: December 9, 2004 (19 years old) Height: 1.75m (5ft 9in)
A fearless guard, Villa has not just impressed with her playmaking skills at youth level. She played for Italy last year at the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2023 - testament to her confidence and rapid development in recent times. These are elements which have also seen her make waves at club level in EuroCup Women with Umana Reyer Venice.
Last year, her performances at U20 level were simply outstanding. She inspired fifth placed Italy and deservedly claimed All-Star Five status for her stunning displays. She attained a sparkling tournament-high 23.4 performance efficiency valuation, dropping 18.7 points. 6.7 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 2.6 steals per game.
Elena Buenavida - Spain
GUARD
Birth Date: March 8, 2004 (20 years old) Height: 1.75m (5ft 9in)
This will be the third time that Buenavida will step out at this tournament and that in itself speaks volumes about her talent level and maturity. Surely a lock to be a future senior star for her country, she's continuing to try and make that breakthrough having won various All-Star Five spots so far at youth level.
Most notably last year, she helped take Spain to the FIBA Women's U19 Basketball World Cup Final in Madrid. Her leadership is unquestionable, her composure and reading of the game is at a super-high level, so she will be a driving force. At club level, Buenavida has impressed with Valencia Basket Club in EuroLeague Women, also helping her to develop.
Ajsa Sivka - Slovenia
FORWARD
Birth Date: November 23, 2005 (18 years old) Height: 1.92m (6ft 4in)
A class act, Sivka had an incredible calendar year in 2023 which she is likely to remember for the rest of her career. She had the thrill of appearing at her first EuroLeague Women Final Four after showing glimpses of her massive potential coming off the bench for Beretta Famila Schio. The forward then showed her qualities for her country as she was given big minutes for FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2023 co-hosts Slovenia in Ljubljana.
While that proved to be a tough tournament for the team, Sivka was the silver lining by far - a point she emphasized weeks later. She was crowned FIBA U18 Women's EuroBasket MVP as she took her country to a historic first title. Multi-skilled with a super wing span, she is a force at both ends of the floor and really does it all. Her MVP show last year saw her rack up big digits in every category - highlighting her varied skill-set and influence.
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. For now though, she will be looking to continue leading her nation and enhancing her flourishing reputation.
Luize Sila - Latvia
FORWARD
Birth Date: August 17, 2004 (19 years old) Height: 1.88m (6ft 2in)
This is the third time the frontcourt ace will take to the floor in the competition and last year was very memorable. Sila was one of the twin turbos, along with teammate Vanessa Jasa, that fuelled a historic event for Latvia as they rode their way to the Final for the first time. Her incredibly efficient displays meant she acted as a pivotal anchor in the paint for her nation.
Strong, determined and making big strides technical and IQ wise, Sila has recently broken into the Latvia senior team and caught the eye in the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers. She has also excelled at club level with TTT Riga, too, in EuroLeague and EuroCup Women.
Marine Dursus - France
GUARD
Birth Date: August 26, 2005 (18 years old) Height: 1.76m (5ft 9in)
The French guard is a joy to watch. Not only skilled, Dursus is super strong physically and opposing defenders have so much difficulty in trying to slow her down. Last year she won a deserved All-Star Five spot at U18 having taken France to runners-up, her contribution right across the stats highlighting just what a positive influence and great prospect she is.
Her talents are known globally now since she appeared at the inaugural Nike Hoops Summit Women's game and put in an excellent showing last year at the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup 2022. Now she has added to her resume with an eye-catching 2023-24 season in EuroCup Women with Angers.
Berfin Sertoglu - Türkiye
GUARD
Birth Date: August 19, 2004 (19 years old) Height: 1.75m (5ft 9in)
It felt like something clicked last year for Sertoglu as she stepped up in a big way compared to previous FIBA youth tournament outings. She assumed a leadership role for her country in this competition and that surely means a similarly if not bigger influence on her return for the 2024 edition.
Averaging almost 12 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assist per game, her numbers were not eye-popping, but her ability to impact games was impressive. Since then, she has managed to complete a first EuroCup Women season with Emlak Konut SK. That will only increase the guard's confidence and ability to be even more influential when she suits back up for Türkiye.
Elina Aarnisalo - Finland
GUARD
Birth Date: July 26, 2005 (18 years old) Height: 1.76m (5ft 9in)
An absolute scoring machine, Aarnisalo will be joning her teammates having been involved again with the senior Susiladies team. Her rapid advancement at the top level is because despite her young age, her offensive capabilities are too good to ignore - or wait. In fact she has already featured in three different FIBA Women's EuroBasket Qualifying campaigns.
The guard's record at youth level is extraordinary, since across all of her four outings, she has averaged almost 19 points per game and that showcases her firepower. Not that she is only about putting the ball in the net, since the Finnish star is also able to create, as well as using her physical attributes to do a great job on the glass.
Frieda Buhner - Germany
FORWARD
Birth Date: May 28, 2004 (20 years old) Height: 1.86m (6ft 1in)
It's going to be a rich reward for Buhner that she will get to return to the competition for this edition since she was the inspiration behind Germany's promotion from Division B last summer. The forward was crowned MVP in Craiova after a sparkling near tournament double-double of more than 14 points and 9 rebounds per game.
A huge prospect for Germany at just the right time as they prepare for their first Olympics, it's probably the case that Paris 2024 might come too soon, but this super prospect can eye up the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 on home soil. Especially since she did register a stellar double-double at last year's FIBA Women's U19 Basketball World Cup.
Marija Avlijas - Serbia
GUARD
Birth Date: January 6, 2005 (19 years old) Height: 1.75m (5ft 9in)
Continually the main weapon in Serbia's armory last year at U18 level, Avlijas was rewarded for her central role in taking them to the Semi-Finals in Konya by being handed an All-Star Five spot. She amassed a stunning 20.6 points per game and handed out almost five assists per outing as well.
A regular standout at multiple Basketball Without Borders events throughout Europe, she was snapped up by NCAA college Ole Miss. Most recently she has also been working out at the Serbian senior national team camp, meaning that a bright future playing for her country looks to be assured.
FIBA