Gal Raviv Shines in European U20 Basketball Championship Despite Israel's Final Loss

Gal Raviv delivered a historic performance at the European U20 Basketball Championship, leading Israel's national team to the final before falling short in the decisive game on Sunday. Despite the loss, Raviv's individual achievements stood out as she dominated the tournament, averaging an unprecedented 28.1 points per game, the highest ever recorded in the competition's history, surpassing the previous record set in 2012 by Alina Iagupova. She also excelled in shooting efficiency, hitting 48.4% from the field, 45.2% from three-point range, and 82.5% from the free-throw line, ranking among the top players in each category.

Raviv was named to the tournament's All-Star Five but was controversially not awarded MVP, a decision criticized by her coach Tal Natan and teammate Ayala Oren. Natan praised her as the key factor in elevating the team's performance and expressed hope for her future success, while Oren called her the true MVP of Europe. Raviv also led in assists (6.6 per game), was second in steals (3 per game), and contributed significantly in rebounds (6.1 per game).

At 19 years old and standing 1.78 meters tall, Raviv is preparing for her third collegiate season with the University of Miami in the United States, aiming to improve her prospects for the WNBA draft. Her previous college season stats included 17.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. After the tournament, Raviv expressed pride in her teammates and a strong desire to continue representing Israel at higher levels, including the senior national team and professional leagues abroad.

Throughout the championship, Raviv posted impressive individual game performances, including 37 points with seven three-pointers against Poland and 35 points with five three-pointers against Lithuania. Her leadership and skill have left a lasting impression on Israeli basketball and set new standards for future players in the European U20 competition.