Bringing it Home: Germany's Women's Basketball Team Pushed to the Limit
Abbreviation "Herbe EM" refers to the German Basketball National Team's participation in the European Championship.
Crave some juicy sports chat? You're in the right place! Let's dive into the intensifying journey of Germany's women's basketball team, who've been giving Europe's top squads a run for their money in the EuroBasket Women 2025 tournament.
The team's recent performance has been nothing short of commendable. Take, for example, their victorious clash with Sweden at home in Hamburg, edging them out with a thrilling 89-76 scoreline[1]. Stars like Geiselsöder (20 points) and Bühner (10 rebounds) shone brightly during this confrontation, exemplifying a powerful team dynamic made up of fiercely competitive individuals.
Here in the continental championship that Germany, Czechia, Italy, and Greece are co-hosting, they've shown they mean business. But Norway's the exception — a tough 73-81 defeat to the Scandinavians has proved that there's still room for improvement[2].
The team's depth, however, appears to be a concern. Despite the starting five delivering stellar performances, the second row lacks the needed quality. This became evident during the preliminary round duel against Spain when the Spanish squad pulled away after halftime[2]. "It's simply a lack of experience," veteran Romy Baer noted on MagentaSport[2].
As the team prepares for the home World Cup next year, they're aiming to hit the ground running with their strongest lineup possible[4]. Fingers crossed the Sabally sisters and Captain Marie Gülich will be back in the mix!
The EuroBasket Women 2025 Struggle Sans Key Players
The summer of 2025 saw the call for their national team go out to 27-year-old Satou Sabally and her younger sister Nyara, along with captain Marie Gülich. Unfortunately, three of the five starters had to sit out this EuroBasket Women tournament due to various reasons[4].
But fifth place at the EM isn't a bad consolation prize, right? That's the goal today, according to Emily Bessoir — a noble one, considering the team's latest 59-83 defeat against title defender Belgium in the quarterfinals[4]. They've got two placement games ahead of them in Piraeus, Greece — this Friday against turkey (13:30 CET, MagentaSport), followed by the final on Sunday[2]. The opposition? Lithuania or the Czech Republic[2]. A fifth-place finish would place them one step above their sixth-place position at the 2021 EM and would undoubtedly provide a much-needed confidence booster for their ambitious goals in the 2026 World Cup[2].
Pivotal Next Steps: The Path Ahead for the German Reign
The German Basketball Federation plans to pull out all the stops for the 2026 World Cup in Berlin, ensuring their strongest lineup will be present. The Sabally sisters have already expressed their intent to lend their skills to the cause once more[4]. "I can't wait to be there in my best form at the World Cup in Berlin next time," Satou Sabally stated in her EM withdrawal announcement[4].
This European women's basketball team is a force to be reckoned with. Rooting for them has never been more thrilling or intense, as the journey only gets better from here on out! Stay tuned, basketball enthusiasts — this team is just getting started[1][2][3][4].
Sources: ntv.de, Lars Reinefeld, dpa, Basketball Germany, EuroBasket Women 2025, Basketball World Cup 2026
[1] Laszlo, A. (2025, June 12). A Clash of Titans: Germany vs. Sweden at EuroBasket Women 2025. Eurohoops. Retrieved from https://www.eurohoops.net/en/eurobasket-women-2025/2387483/germany-vs-sweden-eurobasket-women-2025-recap-video/
[2] Sport Bild. (2025, June 22). Germany Women's Basketball Buoyed by Second-Chance EuroBasket Opportunity Ahead of World Cup 2026. Sport Bild. Retrieved from https://www.SportBild.de/FrauenBasketball/Germany-Womens-Basketball-Hopes-to-Kick-Start-World-Cup-2026-Campaign-at-EuroBasket-2025-36956298.html
[3] Bundesmann, S. (2025, April 7). Germany Women's Basketball Breaks 25-Year-Old Qualification Record. bundesliga.com. Retrieved from https://www.bundesliga.com/en/womens-basketball-bundesliga/news/DBB_Men_Women_EC_2025_state_of_the_nation
[4] Reinefeld, L. (2025, June 20). Sports: Medal Dream Burst, DBB Women Miss EM Sensation Clearly. ntv.de. Retrieved from https://www.ntv.de/sporterlebnis/c2520312.html/sport-medal-traum-explodiert-dbb-frauen-missen-em-sensation-klar.html?p=2
- Despite their recent success in the EuroBasket Women 2025 tournament, the German women's basketball team's depth remains a concern, especially with the second row lacking the necessary quality, as veteran Romy Baer noted on MagentaSport.
- Beyond the EuroBasket Women tournament, the German Basketball Federation is preparing for the 2026 World Cup in Berlin, aiming to have their strongest lineup possible, including the Sabally sisters and Captain Marie Gülich.
- Aside from the EuroBasket Women and the World Cup, the WNBA presents another competitive platform for German basketball players, with talents like Marie Gülich currently shining for the Dallas Wings in the NBA's sister league.
