Basketball fans in Athens witnessed a truly astonishing finish to the EuroBasket Women’s final this Sunday. Belgium, down big with just minutes to play, pulled off a stunning comeback against Spain. They snatched their second straight European title, winning 67-65.
With only 2 minutes and 56 seconds left on the clock, Spain looked set for their fifth European crown. They held a comfortable lead. But then, something clicked for Belgium. They unleashed an incredible 14-0 scoring run. This epic surge completely turned the game on its head. It mirrored their triumph from 2023, where they also took home the trophy.
This final was a rematch of the one two years ago. Spain controlled most of the game, holding the lead for a staggering 29 minutes and 31 seconds. Belgium, by contrast, only led for 7 minutes and 32 seconds. However, the final moments were disastrous for Spain. They committed three costly turnovers in under two minutes. Two of those happened in the last ten seconds of the game.
With just five seconds left, Antonia Delaere capitalized on a bad pass from Spain’s Mariona Ortiz. Delaere grabbed the ball and scored an easy basket. This put Belgium ahead. Julie Vanloo then sealed the deal with a free throw in the very last second.
Julie Allemand led Belgium’s scoring with 19 points. Kyara Linskens added 17 points to the winning effort. Yet, the real star of the final was Emma Meesseman. She delivered a monster performance with 16 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 steals, and 2 blocks. For Spain, Aina Ayuso, Helena Pueyo, and Paula Ginzo all scored 11 points. Raquel Carrera chipped in with 10 points.
Belgium’s path to the championship was flawless. They began their EuroBasket journey with a win over Portugal in their first Group C game. They finished the tournament undefeated, winning all six of their matchups.
Italy Claims Bronze in Upset
The bronze medal game also provided a surprise. Italy, ranked 16th in the world and considered the underdog among the four semifinalists, secured third place. They defeated France, the third-ranked team globally and a finalist for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, by a score of 69-54. This marked Italy’s first time on the podium since 1995, when they finished second.
France, a basketball powerhouse, has been a finalist in five of the last six EuroBasket editions. They had not missed the podium since 2007. Since then, they’ve earned one title in 2009, five silver medals, and two bronze. This third-place finish for Italy breaks a long streak for the French team.
Cecilia Zandalasini and Costanza Verona were the top scorers for Italy in the bronze game. Both players had an impressive 20 points each. For France, Migna Toure was the only player to reach double digits, scoring 13 points.