Ireland U16 Women's squad announced for FIBA Youth EuroBasket 2025

Ireland U16 Women's head coach Paul O'Brien has selected a squad of 12 players that will compete in FIBA U16 Women's Youth EuroBasket 2025, which takes place in Istanbul, Turkey from August 20th to August 29th. Clubs from Antrim, Dublin, Cork, Kerry, Laois and Limerick are represented. 

Limerick Celtics forward Madelyn Hartigan is the only player to return from last year's FIBA U16 Women's Youth EuroBasket squad. Hartigan appeared in six games in Turkey, averaging 2.8 points , 3.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game coming off the bench. She is joined in the squad by two more players from her club, Laura Buckley and Robyn Walsh. That trio are fresh from picking up the AIG U16 Girls All-Ireland Club Championship just a few weeks ago. Buckley (pictured above) has also been chosen to lead the group as captain for the tournament. 

One player from their opponents in that final St. Mary's Castleisland makes the grade, Julie O'Connor played just under 22 minutes in that game.

Elsewhere there are five players selected from Dublin clubs - Amy Elliott (Swords BC), Meteors' Sofia Lopez O'Sullivan, Orlaith Bruton from Moy Tolka Rovers and Killester pair Ayotade Ademokun and Sorcha Kelly will all make their international debuts this summer. Guards Hannah Cassin (Queens BC), Jean Aherne (Ballincollig BC) and Katie Rose Harrison (Portlaoise Panthers) make up the remainder of the roster.

Speaking after the announcement of his squad, Ireland head coach Paul O'Brien said: “

“I am delighted to announce our squad that will compete in Istanbul this summer at the Youth Eurobasket.  We feel we have a great blend of skill and athleticism in the squad and the potential in the group is massive.  Being able to pick a squad of all domestic based players shows how much work has been done by these players schools, clubs and regional academies and we can’t wait to see what the summer brings.

It was such a difficult squad to pick, and we are leaving some really good players behind but I want to thank everyone who has been involved with the squad since September and they should all be immensely proud of the work they have put in.”

Ireland have been drawn in Group A alongside Austria, Iceland, Switzerland and Turkey. Two teams will advance to the quarter-final stage from each of four groups, with three teams gaining promotion to Division 'A' for the following year. 

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Group: 

Group A: Austria, Iceland, Ireland, Switzerland, Turkey.

Fixtures:

Ireland v Iceland, Wednesday, August 20th, 17:30

Austria v Ireland, Thursday, August 21st, 12:30

Ireland v Turkey, Sunday, August 24th, 15:00

Switzerland v Ireland, Monday, August 25th, 12:30 

Ireland squad:

Amy Elliott (Swords BC), Ayotade Ademokun, Sorcha Kelly (Killester), Hannah Cassin (Queens), Jean Aherne (Ballincollig BC), Julie O'Connor (St. Mary's Castleisland), Katie Rose Harrison (Portlaoise Panthers), Laura Buckley, Madelyn Hartigan, Robyn Walsh (Limerick Celtics), Orlaith Bruton (Tolka Rovers), Sofia Lopez O'Sullivan (Meteors BC).