VILNIUS / ALYTUS (Lithuania) - There will be a number of highly talented ballers all looking to light it up in Lithuania when this year's edition of the FIBA U18 Women's EuroBasket 2025 tips off.
There promises to be plenty of stellar rising stars on show and all looking to shoot their teams to Division A. You can use the fan poll below to cast your vote and tell us who you think will have the biggest impact at the tournament.
Firstly, here are the leading candidates to look out for.
Daniele Paunksnyte - Lithuania
GUARD
Birth Date: July 21, 2007 (17 years old) Height: 5ft 10in / 1.78 cm
With more than 15 points per game at last year's edition when Lithuania secured a top five finish but just missed out on jumping to the top tier, Paunksnyte stood out as one of the team's leaders. The guard will be central to the hosts' 2025 promotion push, with her scoring touch and all-action style will set the tone at both ends of the floor.
Lena Bilic - Croatia
FORWARD
Birth Date: May 2, 2007 (18 years old) Height: 6ft 3in / 1.90 cm
A class act, Bilic has posted a double-digit scoring return in all four of her FIBA youth outings. She's also debuted in the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers. One of Croatia's most exciting prospects, her length, scoring ability and composure are looking elite - underlined after being recruited by leading College program UCLA.
Christina Koeppel - Austria
FORWARD
Birth Date: September 28, 2007 (17 years old) Height: 6ft 0in / 1.84 cm
There is every chance that Koeppel could get close to, or even record a tournament double-double if she finds top gear. That's because she impressed at the last edition with 10 points and 7 rebounds per game, doing a great job for Austria on the wings and in the paint. This new campaign is guaranteed to revolve heavily around the forward.
Ioana Savu - Romania
GUARD
Birth Date: September 7, 2007 (17 years old) Height: 5ft 8in / 1.73 cm
The scoring touch of Savu was hugely important at the 2024 edition for Romania, with the guard netting an eye-catching 17 points per game. While her team struggled to make an impression, she was a shining light. Composed and always looking to create for teammates, she will look the full package if she also finds her range from the arc.
Lilli Schultze - Germany
FORWARD
Birth Date: December 13, 2008 (16 years old) Height: 6ft 2in / 1.89 cm
Crowned MVP of the U18 Bundesliga in her homeland, Schultze is the latest stellar talent to step off what's now becoming an eye-popping German conveyor belt of rising star prospects. Likley to be the main offensive contributor for her team, she has grown hugely balling with Alba Berlin who played EuroCup Women last season.
Laura Grunmann - Estonia
GUARD
Birth Date: July 21, 2008 (16 years old) Height: 5ft 10in / 1.78 cm
The guard has been superb at the last two FIBA events she has played, pouring in more than 16 points per game at U16 level last summer. Despite her young age, she has already played briefly for the senior side in the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers and it means she's a lock to be her team's leader on Lithuanian soil.
Kolbrun Armannsdottir - Iceland
GUARD / FORWARD
Birth Date: December 28, 2007 (17 years old) Height: 5ft 10in / 1.79 cm
The do-it-all approach of Armannsdottir was impactful last year when she dropped a majestic 20 points per game and made it a double-double with 11 rebounds per outing too. She also averaged 8.5 points for the senior team in the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers and it underlines her maturity and ability to punch at a higher level.
Bo Guttormsdottir Frost - Great Britain
SMALL FORWARD
Birth Date: July 17, 2008 (16 years old) Height: 5ft 10in / 1.78 cm
She made a splash on her FIBA youth debut last summer in the competition with more than 15 points per game. Frost impressed so much that she was selected by Anna Montanana to play for the senior team in the FIBA Women'S EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers. Long, a good decision maker on the wing, she's versatile and can score.
Joyce Isi Etute - Luxembourg
FORWARD
Birth Date: July 30, 2008 (16 years old) Height: 6ft 0in / 1.84 cm
A powerhouse prospect like her older sister Faith Ehi, the forward has already made the step to the seniors having played in the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers. At youth level she was phenomenal at U18 level in 2024 and posted an eye-popping tournament double-double of 18.7 points and 13.4 boards - and that was in Division A.
Juste Mockeviciute - Lithuania
SMALL FORWARD
Birth Date: April 18, 2008 (17 years old) Height: 5ft 10in / 1.78 cm
Mockeviciute was the leading scorer for Lithuania at U16 last summer as she netted more than 16 points per game. She has also had the opportunity to feature in EuroCup Women last season with Neptunas-Amberton and that has been part of an evolution. A good decision-maker on the wings, she can be pivotal to her team's promotion push.
FIBA