PIRAEUS (Greece) - Belgium are now just one win away from retaining their crown at FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025 but history has not been kind to reigning champions during the modern era.
Perhaps also underlining the intense competitive nature of the famous competition, only Spain and the Soviet Union have ever managed to secure back-to-back titles.
"This is amazing. It's another big challenge for Belgium and we will go for it"
Indeed Spain are the only nation since 1991 to accomplish the feat when they lifted the silverware in 2017 in Prague and then repeated two years later in Belgrade.
National Team | Years | Successive Titles |
|---|---|---|
Spain | 2017-2019 | 2 |
Soviet Union | 1960-1991 | 17 |
Soviet Union | 1950-1956 | 4 |
Prior to this, Soviet Union didn't only retain their crown - they posted the longest title winning streak in tournament history by standing on top of the podium for 17 straight editions. They had also successfully defended the silverware between 1950 and 1956.
Belgium's rise has been spectacular in the past decade or so, and having had that special feeling of winning for the first time in Ljubljana in 2023 - they are perhaps about to do something even more impressive.
It would be a spectacular achievement if they could join the club and star guard Julie Allemand is looking forward to embracing the challenge when they go up against Spain in Sunday's showpiece.
She said: "This is amazing. It's another big challenge for Belgium and we will go for it. "We know Spain is a great team and they will play for the full 40 minutes. But we are going to do everything we need to do to get this back-to back, since we know it would be really incredible."
"Our fans are already proud of us right now for making another Final, " continued Allemand.
"But I also know just how much they want us to bring back the trophy once again!"
FIBA