The German women's basketball team in the 2023 World Cup held in Berlin experienced new successes with gradual improvement in each game. Led by Leonie Feisbach and Niara, the team managed to defeat the European champions, Belgium, in the quarterfinals, showcasing one of their best performances.
Performance in the Semifinals and Third Place
However, the final days of the tournament showed that the German team is still not ready to compete with the top teams in the world for all 40 minutes. Germany lost to France in the semifinals and also lost to Spain in the third-place match. Despite this disappointment, the Germans still consider the tournament a success.
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Challenges of the German Women's Basketball League
The German team, which recently qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games for the first time, is happy with its recent successes but faces serious challenges in the German Women's Basketball League (DBBL). Most players on this team play abroad, and only three national team players are active in the domestic league. Leonie Feisbach pointed out after the game against Spain that "we are still not good enough" and added that "we will get better".
The team's head coach, Olaf Lange, emphasized that to maintain the national team's successes, players must be given opportunities to play abroad, as the domestic league operates semi-professionally and its structures have weakened compared to the past.
The Future of Women's Basketball in Germany
Ireti Amujo, the new president of DBBL, announced changes aimed at professionalizing conditions in domestic leagues. She emphasized the need to hire youth development coaches and increase the capacity of venues. However, Amujo also pointed out the lack of facilities and coaches in Germany, stating that this moment must be used so that young players can play in clubs.
Despite the challenges, Amujo hopes that the World Cup will act as a driving force for the future development of women's basketball in Germany.
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