5 Nov 2023
    10 Feb 2025

    Which rising star made the biggest splash?

    5 min to read
    Poll
    Iyana Martin shone brightly for Spain

    Some of the best young guns on the continent have been showing their skills in national team vests.

    MUNICH (Germany) - The second window of the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers provided a fitting stage for some of the most talented rising stars around to showcase their skills and potential.

    Here are 10 young guns who were all out to impress, but which of these players made the biggest splash?

    You can let us know by casting a vote in the fan poll below.

    Dominique Malonga - France

    CENTER

    Birth Date: November 16, 2005 Height: 6ft 6in (1.98m) Club: LDLC ASVEL Feminin (FRA)

    STATISTICS: 6.0 EFF; 6.0 PPG; 4.0 RPG

    The towering center suited up for the one game in this window, stepping out for France in their huge win against Latvia. She showed her teeth at the defensive end as usual, utilizing her extraordinary length to great effect and coming up with one huge block. She had opportunities to score more points, but just didn't get the drop on the night.

    Juste Jocyte - Lithuania

    SHOOTING GUARD / SMALL FORWARD

    Birth Date: November 19 2005 Height: 6ft 0in (1.84m) Club: LDLC ASVEL Feminin (FRA)

    STATISTICS: 11.0 EFF; 16.0 PPG; 2.5 RPG

    Jocyte showed her scoring touch in this window with 15 points in the loss to Belgium and then racking up 17 in the win against Azerbaijan. It was her three-point shooting that caught the eye, going a combined 8 of 15 from behind the arc. The versatile star is now an established starter and is already becoming a leader - despite still being a teenager.

    Iyana Martin Carrion - Spain

    GUARD

    Birth Date: Jan 18, 2006 Height: 5ft 9in (1.74m) Club: Perfumerias Avenida (ESP)

    STATISTICS: 10.5 EFF; 6.0 PPG; 3.0 RPG; 2.0 APG; 2.0 SPG

    A scoring ace at youth level, the basketball world is now getting a glimpse of the guard's capabilities on the senior stage. With only a handful of minutes against Netherlands, she was handed more scope to shine against Croatia and lit it up with a 5 of 7 shooting effort for 12 points. She also showed she's not all about offense by snapping up 3 steals.

    Faith Ehi Etute - Luxembourg

    POWER FORWARD

    Birth Date: October 24, 2005 Height: 6ft 0in (1.83m) Club: University of Oregon (USA)

    STATISTICS: 20.0 EFF; 12.0 PPG; 13.0 RPG

    The explosive and impactful debut of her teammate Amanda Cahill probably overshadowed the fact that Etute also made huge contributions for her country in this window The forward had a pair of double-doubles in the win against Montenegro and loss to Switzerland to boost her reputation as one of the best emerging players of her generation.

    Emma Cechova - Czechia

    CENTER

    Birth Date: July 12, 2004 Height: 6ft 5in (1.95m) Club: Zabiny Brno (CZE)

    STATISTICS: 21.0 EFF; 16.5 PPG; 7.5 RPG

    It was a tough window for Czechia who fell to 0-4 in their Group after another couple of losses, but that gloomy fact is balanced out by the sunshine of Cechova's continued rise. The center was the standout baller for Czechia in the matchups with Italy and Germany. The 20-year-old took the deserved MVP honor for her team in this window.

    Matilde Villa - Italy

    GUARD

    Birth Date: December 9, 2004 Height: 5ft 9in (1.75m) Club: Umana Reyer Venezia (ITA)

    STATISTICS: 6.0 EFF; 10.0 PPG; 7.5 RPG; 2.0 APG

    Another player who picked up her nation's MVP accolade despite her young age. Villa dropped 14 points in the game against Greece. It was a mixed window for Italy and even if there were few big performances of note. The fact Villa was not riding in top gear and still impressed more than anyone else, speaks volumes about her influence and potential.

    Ajsa Sivka - Slovenia

    FORWARD

    Birth Date: November 23, 2005 Height: 6ft 4in (1.92m) Club: Tarbes Gespe Bigorre (FRA)

    STATISTICS: 8.5 EFF; 10 PPG; 4.0 RPG; 3.5 APG

    Slovenia got back on track with a victory in Finland and then a home success against Hungary. Sivka contributed cameos in that win double by scoring 10 points in both of her outings and also handing out plenty of assists. While she will have wanted to have shot the ball better, the positives were huge - including now being a locked-in starter.

    Frieda Buhner - Germany

    FORWARD

    Birth Date: May 28, 2004 Height: 6ft 1in (1.86m) Club: Movistar Estudiantes (ESP)

    STATISTICS: 11.0 EFF; 7.0 PPG; 5.0 RPG; 2.5 APG

    With a trio of star names absent in Nyara Sabally, Satou Sabally and Leonie Fiebich, it provided Buhner with extra scope to show her skills and potential for the co-hosts. She delivered with a super smart 12 point offering in what proved to be a nail-biting win against Greece. She also did a nice job helping her team on the glass.

    Leila Lacan - France

    GUARD

    Birth Date: June 2, 2004 Height: 5ft 11in (1.81m) Club: Basket Landes (FRA)

    STATISTICS: 9.0 EFF; 7.0 PPG; 3.0 SPG; 2.5 RPG

    The guard offered up two trademark energetic displays in wins against Israel and Latvia, with Lacan particularly impactful defensively. She grabbed 3 steals in both games and showed why she is so suited to the intense and aggressive defensive ethos of her team. Lacan also managed to rack up a double-digit scoring return against Latvia.

    Awa Fam - Spain

    CENTER

    Birth Date: June 17, 2006 Height: 6ft 4in (1.92m) Club: Lointek Gernika Bizkaia (ESP)

    STATISTICS: 11.5 EFF; 7.0 PPG; 6.0 RPG

    The teenage powerhouse was fantastic in Spain's first win of the window against Netherlands. She needed to be, since her team were pushed hard in a 66-59 win. It was Fam's super double-double of 14 points and 10 boards that laid the foundation for the success. It also underlined just how important she will be to her nation's frontcourt moving forward.

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