Israel's Women's U20 Basketball Team Reaches European Championship Semifinals for First Time

Israel's women's under-20 basketball team made history by advancing to the semifinals of the European Championship for the first time ever. On Friday, the team, coached by Tal Natan, secured a dramatic 80-79 victory over Poland, earning a spot among Europe's top four teams in this age category. This achievement marks the highest success in Israeli women's basketball history.

The game began strongly for Israel, led by Gal Raviv who scored five three-pointers and 15 points in the first quarter. However, Poland dominated the second quarter, taking a double-digit lead by controlling the paint. Israel fought back in the final quarter, with an eight-point run early on to tie the game. The match remained close until the end, with Raviv taking charge alongside key defensive plays by Maya Almaliach, ultimately deciding the outcome.

Israel will face the winner of the Belgium-Croatia match in the semifinals on Saturday. Raviv finished with 37 points, including seven three-pointers, while Maya Zilbershlag contributed 16 points and Ayala Oren added 13 points and seven rebounds. Coach Tal Natan praised the team’s unity and determination, stating, "Sometimes dreams come true, and today we fulfilled a dream. We still have two games ahead and aim to win another victory. A medal is not out of reach."

This milestone victory has energized Israeli women's basketball, with the team emphasizing humility and continuous improvement as they prepare for the next challenge in the tournament.