MATOSINHOS (Portugal) - There will be lots of ballers looking to produce some magical performances in Matosinhos when the latest edition of the FIBA U20 Women's EuroBasket tips-off.
The action is set to deliver plenty of entertainment and you can use the fan poll below to cast your vote and tell us who you think will have the biggest impact in the competition.
Firstly, here are just some of the leading candidates to watch out for.
Marine Dursus - France
GUARD
Birth Date: August 26, 2005 (19 years old) Height: 5ft 9in / 1.76 cm
A model of consistency and fierce competitor, Dursus is a hard-nosed guard that will drive France towards the title. She takes immaculate care of the ball, will likely average double-digits in scoring, is a great leader and has been in multiple All-Star Fives across her youth career - as well as featuring at the Basketball Without Borders 2024 Global Camp. She averaged 11.3 points per game in EuroCup Women at UFAB 49 last year which tells a story too.
Ajsa Sivka - Slovenia
SMALL FORWARD
Birth Date: November 23, 2005 (19 years old) Height: 6ft 4in / 1.92 cm
Fresh from a positive individual showing at FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025, Sivka will be the heartbeat of a Slovenia team dreaming big. The MVP of their historic U18 title success last year and still surrounded by other talents, she will make sure her team shoots for the stars. Offering impressive experience at pro-level including in EuroLeague Women, the small forward will bring her extensive skill set and clutch ability to lead her country again.
Tilda Trygger - Sweden
CENTER / FORWARD
Birth Date: February 12, 2006 (19 years old) Height: 6ft 6in / 1.98 cm
Trygger made her senior tournament debut at FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025 as her country posted a gutsy campaign. While she had to be content with limited minutes, her talent and potential is clear. Now back amongst her peers, she could put up some eye-popping numbers. With a College season banked at North Carolina State, she is improving in a big way and her length, combined with extended shooting range make her tough to guard.
Raina Tomasiscka - Latvia
GUARD
Birth Date: January 1, 2005 (20 years old) Height: 5ft 11in / 1.80 cm
The guard led Latvia at last year's edition with more than 16 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists per outing. You can expect a similar return this time around, if not even more production. The offensive skills of the guard have always been her biggest asset and she has added more to her all-around game in the past year or two. Having eased her way into the NCAA with South Florida, Tomasicka will have the green light for Latvia to cut loose and get shots up.
Natalia Rutkowska - Poland
FORWARD
Birth Date: May 17, 2006 (19 years old) Height: 6ft 2in / 1.87 cm
The ability of Rutkowska to score down low or through pick and rolls make her difficult to stop. Also because for a baller her size, she is super confident putting the ball on the floor and driving to the rim. Adept on the glass too, she only just missed out on a tournament double-double at U18 last summer. Most recently, she's evolved her game in the Polish League with Poznan and her performances in preparation point to some big numbers being posted.
Sintija Aukstikalnyte - Lithuania
GUARD
Birth Date: September 18, 2006 (19 years old) Height: 5ft 10in / 1.77 cm
Sensational at the FIBA U18 Women's EuroBasket, Division B last year, the free-scoring guard amassed a super 22.5 points per game, signing off at the event with a 32-point show. The fact she also grabbed an average of 7.5 boards showed she is more than about putting the ball in the basket and was deserving of her All-Star Five slot. She's improved her game balling in EuroCup Women with Kibirkstis and is a prospect ready for senior action soon.
Elif Istanbulluoglu - Türkiye
CENTER
Birth Date: April 4, 2005 (20 years old) Height: 6ft 2in / 1.88 cm
The center was a menace at the 2024 event and racked up almost 17 points and 7 boards per game, so expect big things from the frontcourt ace again. Especially since being boosted with confidence by making her FIBA Women's EuroBasket debut and helping Türkiye punch a ticket to the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 Qualifying Tournaments. The Louisville baller will use her height in the paint to cause big headaches for opposing defenses.
Gal Raviv - Israel
GUARD
Birth Date: December 25, 2006 (18 years old) Height: 5ft 10in / 1.78 cm
A walking bucket, Raviv will step out after a spectacular FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup 2025 when she scored 26.0 points per game and became the record scorer in competition history. With an amazing three-point shot and the ability to create off the dribble, she also fuelled her nation's historic run to the U18 Semi-Finals last year. Meanwhile, having lit it up with Quinnipiac in the NCAA, she's now making the switch to University of Miami.
Carlotta Zanardi - Italy
GUARD
Birth Date: March 15, 2005 (20 years old) Height: 5ft 9in / 1.75 cm
While Zanardi is not a baller who will necessarily put up huge individual numbers, she will be a leader for Italy again - having played well at the 2024 edition. Her 10 points, 7 rebounds and 2.5 assists typified the solid job she will do in the backcourt. Not only scoring and creating, but also the dirty work on the glass too. She has played briefly for the senior side already and has been continuing her development with Schio in EuroLeague Women.
Ines Sotelo - Spain
FORWARD
Birth Date: October 5, 2006 (18 years old) X Height: 6ft 3in / 1.91 cm
Sotelo comes into the competition off the back of an unexpected bronze medal for Spain at the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup 2025. She put in a really solid 8.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game to showcase how she has been developing her game nicely at Michigan State. She will work in the high post offensively and is a good defender who's energy and dedication fits so well into Spain's renowned DNA of intense defense and team-play.
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