Team Profile: Will the Belgian Cats breathe fire in front of record-breaking crowds?

ANTWERP (Belgium) - Pursuing only their second ever Olympic ticket, FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2023 champions Belgium are ready to book a return to the Games in front of record-breaking crowds in Antwerp.

 

 

The Roster

Head coach Rachid Meziane will be largely relying on the team that played last year and delivered the greatest ever moment for Belgian women's basketball when the Cats captured that historic first FIBA Women's Eurobasket title on a famous night in Ljubljana. Tournament MVP Emma Meesseman remains the colossus, an exceptional baller and leader that everything will focus around.

Yet as the All-Star Five last year evidences, it's not all about their marquee baller, since backcourt duo Julie Allemand and Julie Vanloo both deservedly gained recognition for their efforts and they will help the team enormously. The same can be said for Antonia Delaere on the wing and Kyara Linskens in the paint who are part of that backbone. 

What happens if the amazing Emma Meesseman is locked down?

The Question

As ever with Belgium, when the going is good and their centerpiece Meesseman is showing why she is one of the best ballers on the planet, they can look unstoppable.

But, there is a concern about the quality of Plan B if she is locked down, gets into foul trouble or has a very rare off-night offensively. Who steps up in that scenario - or is there enough in the team to get the job done in this situation?

The Hope

Having won that historic silverware last year, it feels like the young guns now have an opportunity to use that inspiration as a springboard to start increasing their influence and production on the team. Players like Billie and Becky Massey, Maxuella Lisowa-Mbaka and even those coming through the talent pipeline like Nastja Claessens. 

Record-breaking crowds will be in place for the Cats as their fans come out to back their team

The Fear

Playing in front of record-breaking crowds can be of help to bring the energy and it can feel amazing to have unprecedented backing. But on the flip-side, that additional weight of expectation can sometimes weigh down players and teams.

Only a few months ago, Belgium lost the first of the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers against Poland on home soil in front of their expectant fans.

 IN THE LAST 10 FIBA EVENTS

YEAR	EVENT	LOCATION	ACHIEVEMENT
2023	FIBA Women's EuroBasket	Ljubljana (SLO)	1st
2022	FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup	Sydney (AUS)	5th
2021	Olympic Games	Tokyo (JPN)	7th
2021	FIBA Women's EuroBasket	Valencia (ESP)	3rd
2019	FIBA Women's EuroBasket	Belgrade (SRB)	5th
2018	FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup	Tenerife (ESP)	4th
2017	FIBA Women's EuroBasket	Prague (CZE)	3rd
2016	Olympic Games	Rio (BRA)	DNP
2015	FIBA Women's EuroBasket	Budapest (HUN)	DNP
2014	FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup	Istanbul (TUR)	DNP

The poll

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