Israel Under-20 Women’s Basketball Team Reaches European Championship Final for First Time

The Israel Under-20 women’s basketball team made history on Saturday by advancing to the European Championship final for the first time ever. They secured a 78-69 victory over Belgium and will face the winner of the France-Spain semifinal on Sunday at 20:30. This follows a dramatic comeback win against Poland earlier in the tournament.

Israel started strong despite their star player Gal Raviv being well-defended. Maayan Cohen impressed with seven three-pointers in the first half, helping Israel build a 21-point lead. Belgium attempted a comeback in the second half, but Israel, which had only lost once in the tournament to Spain in the group stage, held firm. Key contributors included Cohen with 26 points (8 of 14 from three-point range) and six rebounds, Ayala Oren with 16 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists, and Raviv with 13 points, seven rebounds, and 10 assists. Maya Zilbershlag also scored in double digits with 12 points.

The game’s progression saw Israel open with a 9-0 run, extending their lead to 24-20 by the end of the first quarter. Cohen’s shooting spree in the second quarter pushed the halftime score to 43-25 in Israel’s favor. Despite Belgium’s efforts to close the gap in the third and fourth quarters, Israel maintained control and sealed the win. This achievement marks a significant milestone for the team, which has previously reached finals but never before advanced to this stage.

Historically, the Israel Under-20 men’s team has had mixed results in European finals, with victories in 2018 and 2019 but losses in 2000, 2004, 2017, and 2022. The women’s team now has a chance to claim their first gold medal in the tournament’s final on Sunday.