28 Jul
    11 Aug 2024

    Team Profile: Will Serbia keep punching above their weight?

    5 min to read
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    Dragana Stankovic excelled with Serbia at the WOQT in Brazil

    They've landed so many historical highs in the past decade but can they extend their exploits even further?

    PARIS (France) – The upcoming Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris 2024 will likely see Serbia largely completing their transition from an incredible golden generation to the new group for the years ahead.

    With the legendary Sonja Vasic and Jelena Brooks having retired at Tokyo 2020, a glut of other experienced players who have all been at the center of Serbia's amazing success could be about to have their swansong.

    Famously bronze medalists on their Olympic debut at Rio 2016 and making the Semi-Finals at Tokyo 2020, this edition will likely be an even bigger challenge.

    But another genuine legend in Marina Maljkovic always finds a way as she juggles her veterans and upcoming ballers into a team that can compete on the global stage - as we all saw at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022.

    The Roster

    The backcourt will see Yvonne Anderson continue to catch the eye, with the guard a force at both ends of the court and very much a trusted general of Coach Maljkovic.

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    There is also likely to be a prominent role for Jovana Nogic, whose influence and production has grown considerably during the last couple of years.

    There will be massive experience on the wings with the likes of Nevena Jovanovic and Sasa Cado, who have been in situ since the start of Serbia's rise.

    The frontcourt will be dominated by Tina Krajisnik, the super-strong center who is an anchor for Serbia. The highly mobile and skilled Dragana Stankovic was super at the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2024 in Brazil and she could also be hugely important if she continues to hit that level of form.

    The Question

    It's been a staggering decade or so for Serbia but are they about to run out of charge, or do they have still have a collective spark bright enough for the highest stage?

    Sonja Vasic and Jelena Brooks retired in Tokyo after just missing out on another medal

    In the past, it's been Vasic or Brooks pulling them out of a bad situation - in the biggest games of all. Now they probably don't have that kind of baller to put the team on their back - although maybe Anderson comes close.

    If Serbia do it and deliver 'success' (however that may be defined) then they will really need to do it as a team.

    The Hope

    Serbia continue to punch above their weight. Continually written off, they always surprised and went way beyond expectations.

    Arguably punching harder than any other nation at the international level considering their talent pool and size, this toughness and ability to dig out the most incredible results on a consistent basis is in their DNA now.

    Marina Maljkovic has been an incredible coach for Serbia and won bronze in 2016

    The hope is that this trend continues for at least one more time, ahead of a potential completely new phase from next year's FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025 and beyond.

    The Fear

    As tough as it sounds, sometimes reality bites you hard in elite sport. Is this a tournament too far for the Serbia vets who have given such amazing service down the years?

    Probably not, but it is a valid fear that too many players might not have enough gas left in the tank or be in a high enough gear to replicate those truly remarkable past glories.

    The last 10 FIBA Events

     

     

     

     

    YEAR

    EVENT

    LOCATION

    ACHIEVEMENT

    2023

    FIBA Women's EuroBasket

    Slovenia and Israel

    5th

    2022

    FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup

    Australia

    6th

    2021

    Olympics

    Japan

    4th

    2021

    FIBA Women's EuroBasket

    Spain and France

    1st

    2019

    FIBA Women's EuroBasket

    Serbia and Latvia

    3rd

    2018

    FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup

    Spain

    Did Not Participate

    2017

    FIBA Women's EuroBasket

    Czechia

    11th

    2016

    Olympics

    Brazil

    3rd

    2015

    FIBA Women's EuroBasket

    Hungary and Romania

    1st

    2014

    FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup

    Turkey

    8th

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