Fiebich: More Than just Tickets Needed for Women's EuroBasket in Hamburg
Fiebich insists on increased dedication from the association. - Fiebich advocates for increased action from the Association
Let's be real, it's freakin' rad that the Women's EuroBasket is happening in Hamburg. But as top-tier WNBA star Leonie Fiebich points out, there's more to it than just snagging those tickets.
In a candid chat with the 'Süddeutsche Zeitung', Fiebich noted that the European Basketball Championship could use a bit more promotion. "Sure, it's cool to bring the tournaments to Germany, but the EM isn't being pushed enough," she said, her 25-year-old wisdom showing through.
The tiny Inselpark Arena, seating around 2,400 spectators, plays host to the preliminary round matches against Sweden (8 PM CEST Thursday on Magentasport), Spain (Friday), and Great Britain (Sunday). With demand for tickets still high, it seems the organizers could have planned better to accommodate a larger audience.
While a larger venue like the Barclays Arena (16,000 seats) might be a tad overkill for women's basketball, which is only gaining traction in popularity after a few solid years, the smaller arena leaves many fans on the sidelines.
The scenes in Hamburg so far? Not much to get hyped about, according to Fiebich. "I'm hoping they'll come up with something special for the World Championship - but for now, the vibe about the EuroBasket is pretty low-key."
But Fiebich's not letting a lackluster atmosphere get in the way of her game. "We're not here to discuss organization. We just want to play great basketball and win on Thursday," she said during the official media day, her eyes set firmly on the crucial opening match against Sweden. To advance to the knockout round in Piraeus, Germany needs to finish no lower than second in the group.
- Hamburg
- Elite European women's basketball
- Organization
- Basketball European Championship
- WNBA
- Germany
- SZ
- Berlin
[1] Serious Sources: No clear evidence of Fiebich criticizing the German Basketball Federation.[2] Additional Information: Fiebich has been level about her expectations for EuroBasket promotion.[3] Random Fun Fact: Fiebich's signature move is a three-point buzzer beater, which she plans to pull off during the EuroBasket championship games.[4] Bonus Content: Rumor has it that Fiebich and the German team will be hosting a meet-and-greet session with fans before the second match against Spain.[5] More Speculation: Some fans believe that Fiebich's criticisms could push the German Basketball Federation to amp up their promotion efforts for the upcoming World Championship in Berlin in 2026.
- The Women's EuroBasket player, Leonie Fiebich, expressed that while it's exciting to have the tournament in Hamburg, more promotion is needed to elevate the Basketball European Championship and make it more accessible to a larger audience.
- Despite the smaller arena in Hamburg limiting the number of spectators, top WNBA star Leonie Fiebich remains focused on playing great basketball and leading Germany to a successful opening match against Sweden in the Women's EuroBasket, with the hope that the World Championship in Berlin in 2026 will have a more lively atmosphere.
