WNBA: Current, future Valkyries are impressing in EuroBasket

After two days of group play, it’s time to check in with the biggest national team competition in Europe: EuroBasket Women 2025.

France looks like the early favorites

Turkey suffered a heartbreaking loss against France in the competition opener, losing 71-69, despite holding the lead through most of the game. The teams went blow for blow—or miss for miss, particularly in the last part of the contest—and with two minutes left in the competition Valeriane Ayayi made a big 3 to put France up 68-65. Then with 40 seconds left and France up by just one point, she did it again, after being left open in the corner when her defender slipped on the floor.

The next day France made easy work of Greece, winning 92-56 in a game which exhibited their dominance over other teams. This time Ayayi took a backseat and Golden State Valkyrie Janelle Salaün took over, scoring 17 points and collecting five rebounds.

Another standout player for France in both games was shooting guard Migna Touré, who recently was on a training contract with the Valkyries. Through the two games she’s averaging 11.5 points, while making 44 percent of her 3-point attempts.

Lithuania shocks Slovenia and Serbia

Slovenia was riding a five-game winning streak before the competition, but they were stopped in their tracks by the Lithuanians, led by future Valkyrie Justė Jocytė, who despite her young age, took big shots and drove to the basket in both games, setting the tone for the rest of the team. Against Slovenia she had 17 points, making 66 percent of her 2-point shots. Against Serbia she had 15 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, showing her all-around talent.

Slovenia has lost both of their games, but the Lynx’s Jessica Shepard has been phenomenal. The 6-foot-5 center is leading the competition with 22.5 points per game and is second in rebounds with 12 per game. They are victims of being in a tough group, with Italy and Serbia both worthy of making it deep into the competition. Italy was able to win both games, and Valkyrie Cecilia Zandalasini has been amazing. Against Serbia, she had 20 points (4-of-7 from 3), 11 boards and four assists.

Other standouts

Great Britain lost decisively to Spain 85-70 but Columbia Lion Catriona Henderson left a good impression with 14 points and six boards. She shot below 40 percent, but she wasn’t afraid to take the responsibility for the outcome, which is commendable.

Julia Reisingerova, drafted No. 35 overall back in the 2018 WNBA Draft by the Los Angeles Sparks, had 14 points in Czechia’s 89-44 win over Montenegro. The New York Liberty’s Leonie Fiebich had 16 points, while the Dallas Wings’ Luisa Geiselsoder had 20 points in Germany’s win over Sweden, 89-76.

The best player in the competition so far though has been Emma Meesseman, who had 19 points, 11 boards and six dimes in Belgium’s 81-52 win over Portugal. The reigning champs started off the campaign strong and, next to France, look like the favorites to win it all.