International

Jul 03 2025

Preview: FIBA U18 Women's Youth EuroBasket 2025

Ireland have arrived in Alytus, Lithuania ahead of their FIBA U18 Women's Youth EuroBasket campaign, which begins against Romania at 13:30 this Saturday on the FIBA YouTube Channel and Basketball Ireland website.

OUR OPPOSITION

Ireland have been drawn in Group A alongside Romania (57^th), Germany (15^th) Sweden (41^st), and North Macedonia (76th). Ireland are currently ranked 50^th following the 2024 competitions.

They will face each other once over four game days starting on Saturday, July 5th before the top two teams in each of four groups advance to the quarter-finals. The third, fourth and fifth placed teams will go into the 9-16^th classification games.

SQUAD NEWS

Two players return from the squad that secured a top 10 finish a year ago. Kira Lynch (Meteors BC) and Faye McDonnell (Kilkenny Stars) both featured in all seven games during that run, combining for 10 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game respectively. Six more make the step up from the Ireland U16 programme. Aoibheann Donnelly (Belfast Star), Abbie Lyons (Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell BC), Muireann Teehan (Tralee Magic), Francesca Kyamagero (Cobh BC), Meabh Purtill (Limerick Celtics) and Naomi Farrington (Moy Tolka Rovers) all featured for Paul O'Brien's squad at this level in 2024.

All 12 of the roster are currently playing their basketball in Ireland. Sophie Staunton (Oblate Dynamos) is one of a large contingent bringing experience of Domino's Women's Division One basketball to the roster, while Stephaine Nnabuihe (Meteors BC) is the only previously uncapped player selected. Her club mate Helena Keane (Meteors BC) is a former captain at U16 level and is fresh from wining the BIDL Women's Final at the National Basketball Arena just two weeks ago and Ciara Brogan (Liffey Celtics) is another former Ireland U16 player who makes O'Mahony's roster.

VIEW FROM THE BENCH

Speaking ahead of the opening game, Ireland's captain Kira Lynch said: "It's a great honour to represent your country and it's an even greater honour to be able to captain such a great group of girls."

"It's a great team behind us, so we're really looking forward to the next few weeks," added vice-captain Faye McDonnell. "We've had a really good preparation game against Lithuania who are a really strong team, but it was really important to get another practice game in ahead of the start of the tournament on Saturday. "

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LAST TIME OUT

Ireland finished 9th in this competition in 2024 with a 5-2 record. Beating North Macedonia, Norway while losing to Bulgaria and Greece in the group phase, before going on a three game run against Netherlands, Denmark and Ukraine in the classification round.

FIXTURES

Ireland v Romania, Saturday, July 5th, 13:30, Alytus (LTU)

WATCH LIVE

Ireland v Germany, Sunday, July 6th, 11:00, Alytus (LTU)

WATCH LIVE

Ireland v Sweden, Tuesday, July 8^th, 16:00, Alytus (LTU)

WATCH LIVE

Ireland v North Macedonia, Wednesday, July, 9^th, 11:00, Alytus (LTU)

WATCH LIVE

Ireland squad:

Helena Keane, Kira Lynch, Stephaine Nnabuihe (Meteors BC), Abbie Lyons (Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell), Aoibheann Donnelly (Belfast Star), Ciara Brogan (FloMAX Liffey Celtics), Faye McDonnell (Kilkenny Stars), Naomi Farrington (Moy Tolka Rovers), Muireann Teahan (Tralee Magic), Meabh Purtill (Limerick Celtics), Francesca Kyamagero (Cobh BC), Sophie Staunton (Oblate Dynamos).