Israel Women's Basketball Team Aims for EuroBasket Berth

The Israeli women's national basketball team is preparing for a crucial EuroBasket qualification game against Poland, to be held in Riga, Latvia, on Wednesday at 7:30 PM. Israel, which achieved a perfect record in the first stage of qualification, has been placed in a challenging group with Poland, Turkey, and Montenegro. Only the top two teams will advance to the European Championship.

Following the Poland game, Israel will face Turkey at home on Saturday and conclude the current qualifying window with an away game in Montenegro on Tuesday. The team arrived in Latvia on Sunday evening and has been training for the upcoming matches. Head coach Shira Elion expressed determination, stating that while the group is difficult, "everything is possible in basketball." She emphasized the need for tactical discipline and strong team cohesion to overcome potential physical disadvantages against opponents like Poland, who also had a perfect record in their first qualifying stage.

Elion highlighted the contributions of key players from the first stage, including Daniel Raber, Dorian Eitan Sweets, and Avi Meyers, who averaged significant points and rebounds. The current squad also features three players based abroad: Dorian Eitan Sweets and Romi Levi from Crvena Zvezda, and Jordan Garzon from Zaragoza. Poland's team relies on experienced players such as Stephanie Mbunga, center Kamila Borovska, and forward Liliana Bensek.

Elion also commented on the new additions to the squad, noting that they bring a fresh dynamic and must integrate with the existing core. She stressed that the team's success hinges on collective effort and a "big heart" rather than individual stars. The coach urged her players to focus on the immediate game, emphasizing the importance of fighting spirit, aggressive play, and quick transitions, stating, "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts."