Belgium hand chance of a ticket to Tenerife for 20 players
BRUSSELS (FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2018) - Philip Mestdagh has 20 players to choose from as the play-caller prepares to take Belgium on their first-ever trip to the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup later this year.
Mestdagh will rely on the core of the team that delivered a memorable and historic maiden podium finish at FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017.
| Belgium 20-player squad for FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2018 | |||
| Julie Allemand | Marjorie Carpreaux | Antonia Delaere | Lore Devos |
| Serena-Lynn Geldof | Manon Grzesinski | Kyara Linskens | Jaleesa Maes |
| Becky Massey | Billie Massey | Emma Meesseman | Hanne Mestdagh |
| Kim Mestdagh | Heleen Nauwelaers | Sofia Ouahabi | Jana Raman |
| Laure Resimont | Julie Vanloo | Marie Vervaet | Ann Wauters |
There are also two pairs of siblings included, with rising star teenagers Billie and Beckey Massey joining the established Kim and Hanne Mestdagh. The Massey sisters guided Belgium to the title at last year's FIBA U18 Women's European Championship. The only major omission from the squad is Hind Ben Abdelkader, who is currently playing her rookie WNBA season at Indiana Fever.
Happy Birthday @EmmaMeesseman 🇧🇪! Here is an awesome video from #EuroBasketWomen 2017 as a birthday 🎁! @TheBelgianCats pic.twitter.com/FjY1HUpmUC
— #EuroBasketWomen (@EuroBasketWomen) May 13, 2018
Belgium could spring a few surprises when they step out in Tenerife and, if Meesseman and Wauters in particular can remain healthy and productive, a place in the latter stages is certainly not beyond them.
The Belgian federation have also confirmed they will play three games in China between June 1 and 5. After a break, they will host back-to-back games against Greece in late August, prior to a four-nation tournament in Valencia, Spain.
Their last warm-up games will be a pair of double-headers against Turkey on home soil on September 7 and 8, followed by a couple of games against Argentina on September 14 and 16.
FIBA
