James Weldon extended as Ireland head coach for FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2027 campaign

James Weldon has been re-appointed as Ireland senior women’s head coach for the upcoming FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2027 qualifiers, which get underway in November.

His extension was confirmed at a recent meeting of Basketball Ireland’s Elite Performance Committee (EPC), ahead of the qualifying draw in August.

It will be Weldon’s third FIBA Women’s EuroBasket campaign, since taking charge in 2018, having steered the side in the 2023 and 2025 qualifiers. He previously led Ireland to silver in the FIBA European Championship for Small Countries in 2021. The Kerry native is also a decorated coach domestically, winning nine national titles with UL Wolves and being named Women’s Super League Coach of the Year on three occasions during his four-year tenure in Limerick.

Having had to face the third-placed team in FIBA’s World Rankings, France, as well as number 29 Latvia in the most recent FIBA Women’s EuroBasket qualifiers, Weldon is hopeful that the upcoming draw for the 2027 qualifiers will be a little kinder. “The previous FIBA Women’s EuroBasket campaign was incredibly challenging to navigate. I’m very excited to find out who our opponents will be for the forthcoming qualifiers and embracing a new format which will give us more time in camp during each window”, Weldon said.

The FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2027 Qualifiers First Round will see Ireland drawn in a four-team group, with three fixtures this November, followed by three fixtures in February 2026. The FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2027 Qualifiers Second Round then begins in November 2026 and concludes in February 2027, with three games in each window.

“We hope we can build on the great team performance against Latvia last time out, when we came agonisingly close to causing an upset. We have strong squad depth now, having brought in a number of new players over the last couple of years, which should stand us in good stead when we return to competitive action.”

There are no changes to Weldon’s coaching staff, with Basketball Ireland Hall of Famer, Jillian Hayes, UCD Marian head coach Ioannis Liapakis and Team Manager Dolores Geaney all returning for the next two years.

“I’d like to thank my staff and players for their support and the incredible hardworking and talented group of players,” continued Weldon. “I wouldn’t be here without my wife Sharon and my extended family, who I owe a huge debt of gratitude towards for allowing me to continue to undertake this considerable, but exciting, challenge.”

“Finally, I want to acknowledge the Chairperson of the EPC, Professor Deirdre Brennan, the extended committee, Basketball Ireland’s CEO John Feehan and all the professional staff for their ongoing hard work and advice.”, concluded Weldon.

Chairperson of the Elite Performance Committee (EPC), Professor Deirdre Brennan, added: “We’re thrilled to be in a position to extend James Weldon and his staff for the upcoming FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2027 Qualifiers. The progress of the women’s programme has continued under his guidance in the last two years, evidenced by our most recent performance against a very experienced team in Latvia. We’re also excited by the introduction of several young players in the previous campaign and are confident that this group can take another step forward with James at the helm.”