MUNICH (Germany) - Hopes were high that several young guns would make everyone sit up and take notice at FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025 and the rising stars didn't disappoint with some amazing displays across the tournament.
With the countdown already underway until the next edition, several ballers have shown they're going to be even more influential as leaders for their respective nations when the action tips-off in 2027.
Here's our pick of the rising stars who shone most brightly in Bologna, Brno, Hamburg and Piraeus.
Juste Jocyte - Lithuania
SHOOTING GUARD / SMALL FORWARD
Birth Date: November 19 2005 Height: 6ft 0in / 1.84 cm Statistics: 16.7 EFF / 16.0 PPG / 5.2 APG / 4.5 RPG
There is no better place to start than with the winner of the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025 Rising Star honor. Jocyte took the inaugural award after being the heartbeat of her team's run to the Quarter-Finals as they sat back at the top table for the first time in a decade. Her 23 points in her last game was so typical of her contribution.
She showed her class throughout the competition by stuffing the highlights reel, showing her maturity and leadership - despite still being a teenager. Already a huge fan favorite now, the hype around her will be off the charts in 2027 when Lithuania co-host and present the Final Stage of the competition.
Frieda Buhner - Germany
FORWARD
Birth Date: May 28, 2004 Height: 6ft 1in / 1.86cm Statistics: 15.8 EFF / 15.0 PPG / 5.2 RPG / 2.5 APG
Opportunity knocked in a big way for Buhner and she grasped it with two hands in the most impressive fashion with a sensational tournament for the co-hosts. With Germany missing three leading lights in the paint, the forward steppd up and showed she is going to be a difference-maker for the next decade and beyond.
Her brilliant and consistent displays saw her score an outstanding 15 points per game. She also impressed with her work on the glass and court vision to help Germany take 5th spot. Buhner pushed hard in the race for the Rising Star award and while just missing out, she showed that individual accolades could be coming her way in the future.
Awa Fam - Spain
FORWARD/ CENTER
Birth Date: June 17, 2006 Height: 6ft 4in / 1.92cm Statistics: 10.5 EFF / 8.7 PPG / 4.2 RPG / 2.3 APG
There might have been a few eyebrows raised when Fam started games for Spain despite her lack of senior experience, but she delivered spectacularly well. Her immense physical presence was always a factor, with that poise and power coming alongside an ability to stay cool-headed under pressure and at the most important times.
Her Semi-Final display against France was phenomenal and what a stage to post her best ever game in a national team vest. She tore it up with 21 points and 9 boards - also blocking 2 shots that underlined the importance of her defensive prowess to harvest a performance efficiency valuation of 31. Simply amazing for a 19-year-old.
Iyana Martin - Spain
GUARD
Birth Date: Jan 18, 2006 Height: 5ft 9in / 1.74 cm Statistics: 7.7 EFF / 9.7 PPG / 1.3 RPG / 1.3 APG
In the wake of her unbelievable debut season in EuroLeague Women when she landed the Young Player of the Year award, there was so much excitement around the debut of Martin at FIBA Women's EuroBasket and she came up with the goods. Her 14 points in 14 minutes against Great Britain reminded us why she is a walking bucket.
Followed by two solid games against Germany and Sweden, excitement was high she would start cooking again when the action switched to Piraeus. However, she was hospitalized with an illness and she missed the run to the Final. But make no mistake, Martin is a top talent and watching those first footsteps in Hamburg was so much fun.
Emma Cechova - Czechia
CENTER
Birth Date: July 12, 2004 Height: 6ft 5in / 1.95 cm Statistics: 13.3 EFF / 9.8 PPG / 59% FG / 6.3 RPG
Fresh from her breakout EuroLeague Women season with Zabiny Brno and subsequent switch to reigning champions ZVVZ USK Praha, Cechova may have felt under the spotlight more than ever before. But she applied super composure to continue growing and impressing in a Czechia vest - loving the challenge as co-hosts in Brno.
Across the competition she excelled, firstly cementing her status as a favorite with the home fans in the group stage, then bringing her footwork and finishing to the table in Piraeus. She was a central part of her country taking their best finish in 12 years and is just going to get better and better under the bucket for country and club now.
FIBA