Ireland squad selected for FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2023 Qualifiers

Ireland senior women’s head coach James Weldon has named four uncapped players in his extended 17-person squad for the FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2023 Qualifiers. Ulster University’s Abigail Rafferty and WIT Waterford Wildcats player Kate Hickey both represented Ireland at the FIBA U20 Women’s European Challengers in Hungary during the summer. Trinity Meteors player Sarah Kenny has also previously been capped at underage level. There is a first call up for Maura Fitzpatrick, with the Connecticut native currently playing for Gloucester City Queens in the WBBL.

Fitzpatrick is not the only overseas-based player in the squad, with Anna Kelly, who is with Belgian club Spirou Ladies Charleroi, also selected. There are 12 Irish clubs are represented, with three players from DCU Mercy, while Trinity Meteors, Leixlip Amenities Liffey Celtics and WIT Waterford Wildcats have two players each.

Ireland will play their opening qualifier against the Netherlands in Amsterdam in two weeks time, on November 11th, followed by Czech Republic on November 14th at the National Basketball Arena, in Dublin.

Speaking on the announcement, head coach James Weldon said “The team are excited to be back playing at the highest level internationally ,but are also keenly aware of the formidable challenges that lies ahead. We are looking forward to getting the team together during the international break in November. The process of rebuilding the team will continue over the three international windows as players learn to play at this elite level.”

Ireland Senior Women's Squad

First Name	Surname	D.O.B	Age	Height	Club	Position
Abigail	Rafferty	01-01-2002	19	184cm	Ulster University	Forward
Anna	Kelly	18-06-1997	24	168cm	Spirou Ladies Charleroi	Point Guard
Áine	O’Connor	28-11-1991	29	185cm	Leixlip Amenities Liffey Celtics	Forward
Claire	Melia	07-12-1999	21	190cm	The Address UCC Glanmire	Centre
Dayna	Finn	02-09-2000	21	175cm	Trinity Meteors	Shooting Guard
Edel	Thornton	27-11-1996	24	170cm	Singleton SuperValue Brunell	Point Guard
Gráinne	Dwyer	19-12-1984	36	178cm	Fr. Mathews	Forward
Hannah	Thornton	29-07-1991	29	175cm	DCU Mercy	Centre
Kate	Hickey	15-10-2002	19	180cm	WIT Waterford Wildcats	Small Forward
Lynn	Tunnah	14-06-2000	21	175cm	Griffith College Templeogue	Shooting Guard
Maeve	Phelan	05-05-2000	21	177cm	DCU Mercy	Shooting Guard
Maura	Fitzpatrick	27-02-1997	24	178cm	Gloucester City Queens	Small Forward
Michelle	Clarke	03-09-1994	27	176cm	Killester	Small Forward
Rachel	Huijsdens	23-06-1999	22	193cm	DCU Mercy	Forward
Sorcha	Tiernan	18-09-1999	22	174cm	Leixlip Amenities Liffey Celtics	Shooting Guard
Sarah	Kenny	24-01-1997	24	182cm	Trinity Meteors	Forward
Stephanie	O'Shea	25-04-1991	30	185cm	WIT Waterford Wildcats	Centre

Ireland are in Group I of qualifying which also contains Belarus, who they will face in the second FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2023 Qualifiers window, in November 2022.