Women's basketball claims initial triumph in the European Championships, Dirk Nowitzki on hand to celebrate.
Hamburg (dpa) - Celebrations all round as Germany's women's basketball team, fueled by the energy of their birthday boy Dirk Nowitzki, won their tournament opener against Sweden in the European Championship. Under the watchful eye of basketball legend Nowitzki, sitting in the front row, Germany triumphed with a score of 89:76 (44:27).
"It's always a massive relief to win the first game," said head coach Lisa Thomaidis on MagentaSport, beaming with pride for her team. "They delivered an outstanding performance."
Determined to make it to the knockout round in Piraeus, Germany needed to finish at least second in their group, and their next opponent - Spain - is up on Friday at 8:00 PM. Spain, as you may know, made a stunning debut with an 85:70 (48:25) victory over Great Britain.
Birthday Boy Nowitzki Visits
The German women's team had been eager to meet Nowitzki, and their wish came true on the legend's 47th birthday. Nowitzki was already at the Hamburg Inselpark Arena before the game, pressing the buzzer to kick off the preliminary round games in the Hanseatic city. He applauded the entire German team and cheered them on.
The excitement generated by Nowitzki's presence seemed to fuel the German team. Vice WNBA champions Luisa Geiselöder and Leonie Fiebich helped Germany establish an early lead of 16:2. Geiselöder, fresh off the plane and still missing most of the preparation due to commitments with the WNBA, impressively scored eight points in the first quarter. Meanwhile, Fiebich made two crucial three-pointers.
Star Performance
While some key players like Satou and Nyara Sabally, as well as captain Marie Gülich, weren't present for this game due to injuries or other commitments, Geiselöder and Fiebich carried the team in the first half. The hosts led by a comfortable 17 points at halftime, with Nowitzki beaming in the stands.
The second half saw a determined Sweden fighting back, narrowing the gap to six points. But Fiebich stayed cool under pressure and calmed the team with two crucial three-pointers, ensuring Germany maintained their lead. In the final quarter, Geiselöder and Frieda Bünner continued the assault, making sure Germany triumphed over Sweden throughout the game.
While the exact impact of Nowitzki on the team isn't documented, one thing's for certain - his presence infused energy into the German team, which undoubtedly contributed to their powerful start in the European Championship.
The birthday boy, Dirk Nowitzki, undoubtedly added an extra boost of motivation to the German women's basketball team, as they capitalized on his energy to notch a victory over Sweden in the European Championship. Onwards to their next match against Spain, the team aims to carry this momentum and secure a spot in the knockout round.
