BERLIN (Germany) - Another huge crowd inside Berlin Arena celebrated Germany producing another stunning performance to reach the last four of the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026.
On a truly great night they took down reigning FIBA Women's EuroBasket champions Belgium 93-74 to produce the greatest night in the history of German women's basketball - at least, so far.
Alexandra Wilke scored 10 points in this game for Germany and as she sat on the bench, she couldn't deny the emotions running wild.
"The last two minutes of the game, I was sitting there and I had goosebumps," said Wilke. "We've come such a long way, today, especially in front of our home crowd."
"[Was] this was the best day of my career?" repeated Luisa Geiselsoder when prompted. "That's a really good question."
"Right now, yes," she later replied. "Because we're in Berlin, we just beat Belgium. We meet them every summer. It's hard to beat them. Right now, I'm telling you, yes. Right now, for sure."
Already assured of their best ever finish by reaching the Quarter-Finals, the hosts are now looking to continue a potential fairytale run all the way to the podium.
"I love this. This is everything I dreamed of with the national team," said team captain Marie Guelich. "Like, this is my home team. I always say like, I love this team. I [will] do everything for these people."
"My heart is in this team.
"I'm beyond proud I can be part of this team this year, that I can just be here and experience this."
That was something almost unimaginable after their 30-point opening-day nightmare against Spain, but Germany have completed a staggering turnaround, going unbeaten ever since and now facing France in Saturday’s semi-final.
"For us, we kind of knew Spain would be a tough game," Guelich recalled back to opening day. "Obviously you don't want to lose [by that much], but I think sometimes wake up calls like those are important."
"I think it was like us coming together and be like, it's fine. We can lose, but we're not done yet.
They are clearly the team on the rise, displaying the most stunning momentum of any team in the tournament. What, really, is their limit?
"This is the night for German women’s basketball," Geiselsoder said. "Seeing all those fans, seeing the whole tournament with the fans… our whole Group Phase [games were] sold out. The game today was sold out."
"All of that is just so incredible, amazing for Germany."
When also asked whether this was the biggest night in her young career, Frieda Buhner said: "So far? Yeah. One of them."
"But I feel like you also need to think about all of the games we had before, all the people that played with the national team before because they really paved the way."
"I mean there's so many of my old teammates and girls that didn't play with the national team. They just came before us and gave everything for the team."
For the players, it has been especially special, playing at home for their first World Cup. For coach Olaf Lange, he has some experience that adds context to the importance of a moment like this one.
"On the national team level, I've been at the 2022 World Cup with Australia. We won a bronze medal there. It was special, but it wasn't my country. It was my wife's country, and I was extremely stoked for her," Lange said.
"It was great, but it does feel different to do that in your own country, in front of your own crowd. I'm from Berlin, in front of the Berlin crowd and seeing the fans.
"If you're as old as I am and you've been around basketball, you know that this is night and day to what we used to have."
"It's a very special moment. For me, it feels like the best day German basketball. But everything is in reflection of the moment. There is always evolution and more in the future."
A home crowd of 10,537, including the legendary Dirk Nowitzki watched on with glee as two of Germany's big-hitters Nyara Sabally and Leonie Fiebich turned up the noise for their team.
Sabally finished with a classy double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds and took TCL Player of the Game honors.
Meanwhile Fiebich answered the call of Olaf Lange to shoot more and finished with a team-high 17 points and 10 boards to also record a famous double-double.
And the crowds cheered on from start to finish.
"All of these little girls out there, you go out and they just want your autograph. They scream your name. They are so excited to see you. They want high fives."
"We've had moments where we didn't have a lot of fans and now we've really reached people, especially young women. I'm really excited about that," said Guelich. "I love that we have that opportunity."
It a similar bigger picture lenses that coach Lange is looking through as well from his perspective after this game.
It wasn't just the landmark victory that impressed, but also the performance which was laced with intensity, physicality, teamwork and some big shots when needed.
Just like during their famous Olympic debut at Paris 2024, they nullified the slick Belgian offense which stuttered outside of the usual brilliance of Emma Meesseman. She led the fight in defeat with a stellar 29 points - her highest ever total in the competition.
In this certain snapshot, it truly does feel like it is the greatest night for women's basketball in Germany. Still, there more basketball to be played - and some fans might be hoping to repeat these emotions in the next stage of the competition in the Semi-Finals clash against France.
But, for now, it's just time to take in the greatness of the moment.
"Would, would you be incredibly mad if I don't talk about the next opponent just yet?" Lange said when asked about his upcoming opponents.
"Let me just enjoy this moment."
Now with the Germany men's team reigning FIBA Basketball World Cup and FIBA EuroBasket champions, could the women's team join the podium party?
FIBA