Israel's U20 Women's Basketball Team Reaches Historic European Championship Final

For the first time in history, Israel's under-20 women's basketball team has advanced to the final of the European Championship after defeating Belgium 78-69 on July 11, 2026. The team, coached by Tal Natan, started strong with a 12-0 run and maintained their lead throughout the game. Maayan Cohen set a tournament record with her outstanding three-point shooting, while Gal Raviv, a candidate for the tournament's MVP, recorded a double-double. The match saw Israel leading 24-20 after the first quarter and extending their advantage to 43-25 by halftime. Although Belgium fought back in the third quarter, narrowing the gap to 63-46, Israel held firm in the final quarter, resisting a Belgian comeback that reduced the deficit to nine points. Key three-pointers and solid defense secured Israel's 78-69 victory. Israel will face the winner of the France-Spain semifinal in the final, entering as underdogs but motivated to claim their first gold medal after already securing a podium finish.