MUNICH (Germany) - The last tickets to the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025 were snapped up on Sunday and it was a thrilling ride up until the last buzzer had sounded. There was still plenty riding on the very last game of the competition, with the last available ticket going down to the wire and now the curtain has fallen, the 16-team lineup has been confirmed.
Key Storylines
- Portugal make history with first-ever ticket to the main event; - Switzerland end a wait of almost seven decades to return; - Belgium take ticket after squeezing past Lithuania in Vilnius; - Slovenia shut down Finland to coast Final Round; - Montenegro make it eight Women's EuroBasket editions in a row with big home win; - Great Britain and Lithuania also advance as best-placed runners-up.
Daily Highs
Efficiency: Anete Steinberga (Latvia) - 39 Points: Anete Steinberga (Latvia), Andjelika Mitrashinovikj (North Macedonia) - 33 Rebounds: Weronika Telenga (Poland) - 18 Assists: Holly Winterburn (Great Britain), Laura Cornelius (Netherlands) - 10 Steals: Leila Lacan (France) - 6 Blocks: Multiple Players - 3
Party-time as Portugal take a ticket
It was a historic night for Portugal as they made history by beating Serbia 57-40 to make sure they will lineup at the FIBA Women's EuroBasket for the very first time. It took a brilliant defensive effort to take down their opponents and to qualify as one of the best placed runners-up - much to the delight of their fans who got the party started in Coimbra.
Having invested almost every year during the last decade in hosting FIBA youth events, the delivery of senior success for the women will have an added significance for Portugal. Marcia da Costa came up with a team-high 15 points to pace the landmark success, while Maria Bettencourt Correia came up with 12 points.
"It’s hard to find words to describe this moment. It is the first time in history that this happens, it is an honour to be here, to be part of this group, but it’s more important to say that this hasn't fallen from heaven. We have been working towards this for a lot of years, a lot of generations. This national team has been working for a long time, perhaps when other national teams were resting, we kept on working towards our goal. It’s a huge emotion." - Carolina Rodrigues, Portugal
"There are players with over a decade of national team experience, we started as the fourth [team in the group] in the first qualifying round, we grew up and today, to be here, it is a historical landmark and an amazing feeling." - Ricardo Vasconcelos, Portugal coach
Swiss roll to Final Round after almost seven decades away
It's been quite the wait, but after 69 years away from the FIBA Women's EuroBasket, Switzerland will proudly take their place at the event again. It was due to a super 87-39 triumph at home to Bosnia and Herzegovina that they made it - although had to wait a number of hours to get the thumbs up as one of the best-placed runners-up.
Stephanie Martinez chose a great time to turn up the volume with one of her best ever games as the guard came to the party with 20 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals. Her balanced display was the standout effort, but it was a team show as 11 players all got themselves onto the scoresheet on a day to remember.
Slovenia lock down Finland to fly to Final Round
They might have lost their opening game of the Qualifiers, but Slovenia have been on fire ever since and they made it five in a row by shutting out Finland 96-47. The victory secured the 2023 co-hosts a spot back at the showpiece and was orchestrated by Jessica Shepard who mustered a fine double-double of 20 points and 12 boards.
There was also a super shooting display from young Ajsa Sivka who went 6 of 7 from the floor to net 15 points, while Teja Oblak weighed in with an all-action 14 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. Slovenia punched their ticket for their fourth straight edition having only debuted in 2017.
Cats edge out Lithuania in thriller
Belgium showed they have the heart of champions after digging themselves out of a hole in Lithuania to take a 70-69 success, claim top spot in Group C and a ticket to the FIBA Women's EuroBasket in the process. The holders looked like they might be denied when down by as many as nine points during the last quarter, but a 14-4 run burst them into life and they scraped over the line in a tense finale.
The offensive rebounding of Kyara Linskens was key, with the Belgian center grabbing five of them and finishing the contest with a double-double of 16 points and 11 boards. Juste Jocyte claimed 20 points in defeat.
Montenegro make it eight in a row
They may be the smallest nation to ever step out at the FIBA Women's EuroBasket, but Montenegro continue to make a splash after they extended their appearance streak to eight consecutive editions. Needing an 11-point victory against Luxembourg to be sure of their spot, they finished the job with an 86-53 triumph that sealed their place.
They found the hot hand early and made it rain from downtown, with that sharp-shooting forming the basis for being crowned group winners. It was Natasha Mack who excelled inside after collecting 15 points and 7 rebounds, with Dragana Zivkovic adding 12 points, 6 boards and 7 assists.
Results
Lithuania 69-70 Belgium Azerbaijan 34-88 Poland Denmark 58-75 Great Britain Sweden 70-51 Estonia Netherlands 64-81 Spain Israel 39-100 France Montenegro 86-53 Luxembourg Czechia 74-69 Italy Switzerland 87-39 Bosnia and Herzegovina Greece 64-67 Germany Romania 61-99 Türkiye Slovakia 78-55 Iceland Slovenia 96-47 Finland Portugal 57-40 Serbia Ireland 90-96 Latvia Bulgaria 92-89 Hungary Ukraine 74-72 North Macedonia Croatia 65-57 Austria
FIBA