With star player Satou Sabally’s comeback, the German basketball players started qualifying for the 2025 European Championship with a victory that was never in danger.
In Prague, the team led by the well-disposed Berliner won 85:41 (41:19) against the hosts Czech Republic, but the game had no sporting significance. As co-hosts, Germany is seeded in Group I for the tournament in two years’ time, just like all other opponents.
Sabally (25), who showed strong performances for the Dallas Wings in the past season of the US professional league WNBA, played for the national team for the first time in four years and was the best thrower with 21 points. Her younger sister Nyara made her debut with the senior team, and the 23-year-old achieved a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds.
In the Kralovka Arena, the German Basketball Federation (DBB) team broke away early, with the Sabally sisters single-handedly scoring the first eleven points. Apart from the many ball losses, national coach Lisa Thomaidis could be satisfied, the game was one-sided and practically decided at the break. On Sunday (5:30 p.m./free at MagentaSport) we play against Italy in Hamburg.
The qualification for EuroBasket 2025 serves the DBB selection primarily to prepare for Belem/Brazil. The Olympic qualifying tournament for the 2024 Paris Games will take place there from February 8th to 11th. In a difficult group of four with the hosts, Serbia and Australia, at least third place is needed.
At the 2025 European Championships, the German women will play their preliminary round games in Hamburg, and the 2026 World Cup will then take place entirely in Berlin.