Israel's Women's U20 Basketball Team Aims for Historic Success at European Championship

Israel's women's under-20 basketball team is set to compete in the European Championship starting July 4, 2026, in Alytus and Klaipeda, Lithuania. Coached by veteran Tal Natan, marking his 35th summer with Israeli national teams, the squad features a core of players who have already achieved historic milestones, including Gal Raviv, Ayala Oren, Maayan Cohen, and Maya Zilbershlag. Two years ago, this group led the U18 team to a fourth-place finish at the European Championship, Israel's best ever, which secured their first-ever qualification for the U19 World Championship in 2025, where they finished ninth.

In the previous U20 European Championship, Israel stunned the basketball world by defeating two-time defending champions France in the round of 16 after a perfect 3-0 group stage. Raviv scored 32 points in that upset, and Zilbershlag added 16. Israel ultimately finished sixth, their best result to date, after returning to Division A only in 2022. Coach Natan emphasized the importance of quick recovery and defensive rebounding, expressing confidence in his talented players.

The tournament format includes 16 teams divided into groups for ranking purposes. Israel is placed in Group A alongside host Lithuania, Croatia, and reigning champions Spain. Israel opens against Spain on July 4, followed by Croatia and Lithuania. The knockout stage begins with a round of 16 match against one of the top four teams from Group B (Sweden, Germany, Hungary, Latvia). A win advances Israel to the quarterfinals; a loss sends them to classification matches. The team will play up to seven games in nine days.

Spain, the reigning European and U18 champions, features standout players Gina Garcia, the previous tournament MVP, and center Sara Okka. Lithuania, the host and 2025 silver medalist, will be led by guard Sintija Okstiklenita. Croatia, newly promoted to Division A, highlights guard Lana Bilic, a UCLA college champion.

Gal Raviv, 19, is Israel's star player, having earned MVP honors in her rookie college season at Quinnipiac and leading the U19 World Championship in scoring with 26.3 points per game. Despite injuries this past season at the University of Miami, she remains a key figure. Rising stars Maayan Cohen and Ayala Oren, both recently called up to the senior national team and heading to U.S. colleges, also bolster the roster. Maya Zilbershlag, last year's U18 European scoring leader, continues to impress in Israel's top league.

The squad also includes experienced players like Neta Meisher and Mai Baiko, alongside promising newcomers such as Maya Almaliah, the MVP of the Israeli youth league finals, and Noa Teichman, making her U20 debut after a college season in South Florida. The team aims to build on its recent successes and make history once again at the European Championship.