After the strong performance at this year’s European Championship, the German women’s national basketball team outclassed the Czech Republic in the first European Championship qualifying game.
On Thursday (November 9th, 2023), the DBB selection won 85:41 (41:19) when Satou Sabally returned to the national team. Sabally, one of the best players in the US professional league WNBA last season, last played for the DBB team in November 2019 and decided not to play in the European Championships.
With 21 points, the 25-year-old was the best thrower of the game, while her younger sister Nyara impressed with 17 points and 13 rebounds in her debut for the senior national team.
Economies of scale are consistently exploited
The Sabally sisters scored the first eleven points of the DBB selection. National coach Lisa Thomaidis’ team exploited its size advantages, led by double digits for the first time after six and a half minutes and pulled ahead to 41:19 at the break.
The German team also controlled the game in the second half and after four minutes they had extended their lead to over 30 points for the first time. In the end, the women’s national team impressed offensively with a rate of 53.9 percent from the field, while good defense held the Czech Republic to 23.3 percent.
Now Sunday against Italy
Germany has already qualified as the host of one of the four preliminary round groups for the 2025 European Championships, but together with the three other host nations in a common group, the women’s national team will still contest the European Championship qualification. Next up is a duel with Italy this Sunday in Hamburg.