Women follow men to Paris
DBB team fulfills historic Olympic dream
February 12, 2024, 6:54 a.m
The big surprise is perfect: German women’s basketball players are playing at the Olympic Games for the first time. National coach Lisa Thomaidis’ team pulled off a coup at the qualifying tournament – also thanks to star player Satou Sabally, who sometimes throws with her other hand due to an injury.
The German basketball players around a self-sacrificing Satou Sabally have fulfilled their big dream and are taking part in the Olympic Games for the first time. At the qualifying tournament in Belem, national coach Lisa Thomaidis’ team got their ticket to Paris with a 73:71 (39:35) victory over hosts Brazil. It is the greatest success in history for the DBB women.
“I’m speechless. This is historic,” said captain Svenja Brunckhorst. Thomaidis bowed to the team: “The toughness, the courage they showed, I’ve never seen that before. I’m super proud. This is a massive step for this team.”
And so the players once again blew up the press conference. “Who Let The Germans Out?” sang the team to the melody of the hit “Who Let The Dogs Out” – just like last year at the European Championships. After the success, the players put on hats with the words “Et Voila!” and there was also an oversized boarding pass to Paris.
Since Serbia narrowly lost to Australia in the first Sunday game (73:75), the starting position before the third and final game was clear: the German team could even afford a defeat with a difference of up to seven points.
Sabally sisters back on the team
After the sisters Satou (injured) and Nyara Sabally (rested) were missing from the clear defeat against Australia (52:85) the day before, both returned to the squad. Star player Satou Sabally wore a shoulder cuff on the left side and – unlike usual – sometimes threw with her right hand.
Despite this weakening, the team got off to a strong start (11:0/4th minute). Brazil, cheered on by their 9,000 fans, fought their way back over the course of the first half and the duel was then open. In the first meeting with the South Americans since 1998, things were tough, sometimes too tough, with Satou Sabally in particular getting a lot of work. The Berlin woman was in pain.
The DBB team fought back, but Brazil made it 65:61 (36th). Satou Sabally shone with a double-double (20 points, 11 rebounds), made it 67:67 (40th) and secured the preliminary decision. Germany followed Australia to Paris – and took Serbia with it. Brazil failed without a win in Group A of four.
Thanks to the next coup of the women, who earned sixth place at the European Championships last year and earned the starting place for the qualifying tournament in Brazil, the DBB is represented by both teams in Paris. The men qualified for the gold medal at the 2023 World Cup.