In the top 8 for the first time since 1997
DBB women sensationally fight their way into the European Championship quarterfinals
06/20/2023, 9:55 p.m
For the first time in 26 years, the German basketball players are in the quarter-finals of a European championship. The team of national coach Lisa Thomaidis won in Ljubljana confidently against Slovakia and can even hope for a medal after the convincing success.
The German women’s basketball team with Marie Gülich in a brilliant mood continued their triumphant comeback to the European Championships in an impressive manner and reached the quarter-finals. In the intermediate round, the team of national coach Lisa Thomaidis beat Slovakia in Ljubljana/Slovenia 79:69 (44:36), on Thursday (8:45 p.m./free of charge at MagentaSport) they will face four-time title winners Spain.
It is only the second time since 1997 that a women’s team from the German Basketball Federation (DBB) has made it into the quarterfinals of the European Championship – back then it was bronze. The Thomaidis protégés are outsiders against Spain, the champion of 1993, 2013, 2017 and 2019 had booked his quarter-final ticket directly by winning the group. “Such a do-or-die game is everything you work for. We are all totally excited,” said Leonie Fiebich before the start of the knockout phase against Slovakia. And the German women started concentrated, both teams initially fought a duel at eye level and hit a high percentage from the line of three.
From the second quarter, Gülich dominated more and more in the zone, the 29-year-old played a large part in the break lead, which could have been higher. The center player already had 16 points when she went into the dressing room. After the change of sides, Fiebich (23) also presented himself stronger and stronger, in the third quarter (17:12) the DBB team pulled away decisively and no longer allowed tension to arise. Gülich (26 points/9 rebounds) and Fiebich (15/8) were the top scorers at the 2026 World Cup host.
At the first European Championship participation since 2011, the German selection secured second place in the group and place in the intermediate round after losing the opening match against European runners-up France through victories over co-hosts Slovenia and Great Britain.