Gal Raviv Dominates U20 European Championship, Leading Israel to Historic Semifinal
Gal Raviv, the 19-year-old Israeli guard, is delivering a phenomenal performance at the U20 European Basketball Championship, turning the tournament into her personal showcase. After scoring 37 points and seven three-pointers in a dramatic 80-79 quarterfinal victory over Poland, Raviv has firmly established herself as the tournament's standout player. She leads the championship in scoring with an average of 31 points per game, nine points ahead of the second-place player, and tops the efficiency rating with 33 points per game. Additionally, she ranks first in assists with 6.6 per game and second in steals with 3.8 per game.
Raviv's impressive stats include three games scoring over 30 points, helping Israel achieve one of its best offensive performances in recent years, averaging 80.6 points per game, the fifth-best in the tournament. Israel also leads Europe with a 37% three-point shooting percentage and averages 12 three-pointers per game. Defensively, the team is strong as well, ranking second in steals with 13 per game. After securing the semifinal spot against Belgium, Raviv emphasized the team's ambition to continue winning and make history, highlighting their hard work and unity.
FIBA has recognized Raviv as the undisputed star of both the Israeli team and the tournament, praising her scoring, playmaking, and defensive skills. Raviv's basketball journey began after switching from gymnastics in childhood, influenced by her parents who both played basketball. She trained at Wingate Institute's excellence academy and moved to the U.S. at age 16 to play high school basketball in Arizona. Currently, she is entering her fourth season at the University of Miami and is projected as a top prospect for the 2028 WNBA draft, potentially going fifth overall.
With Israel now just one win away from a historic medal, Raviv's extraordinary talent and leadership are at the forefront of Israeli women's basketball's greatest achievement to date.
