Everything you need to know about the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2019

MUNICH (Germany) - There will be so much to enjoy at the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2019 in Latvia and Serbia that we've picked out they top things you need to know.

Unpredictability

The most beautiful aspect of this competition is that it is one of the most exciting and unpredictable not only in the women's game, but in sport. This prestigious event has had 8 different nations winning the last 12 editions. Also, no champion has ever defended their title in almost 30 years when the Soviet Union did it in 1991. But, that should not stop you making a prediction about who will take the silverware in our Fan Vote.

Two Returnees

14 of the 16 nations competing at the 2019 edition also appeared two years ago. Both Sweden and Great Britain are back at Final Round for the first time since 2015.

The curse of the host nation(s)?

No host has won this competition in 18 years and even more eye-opening is that a host nation has only got onto the podium once during that time (France 2013)! So, that is just 1 medal from 24 possible podium spots during the last 8 editions for the respective host nations!

History ahead for Ana Dabovic?

The Serbian star was MVP back in 2015 when her country won their first title. No player has even been crowned MVP twice in this competition. Because Alba Torrens (2017 MVP) is ruled out injured, Dabovic is the only player who can potentially write what would be a significant line of FIBA Women's EuroBasket history.

A First Podium Finish?

Back in 2017, Belgium collected their first ever medal when they took bronze. At this edition, there are five nations who have never stood on a podium at the event. They are Latvia, Sweden, Montenegro, Slovenia and Great Britain. The latter two have also never previously made it to the Quarter-Finals.

End of a 16-year wait?

No team has scored 100 points since 2003, when Ukraine beat Israel 107-87. Will this run be ended? We're backing somebody to do it and break past the century mark! Maybe it will be Ukraine again - led by the explosive Alina Iagupova!

By the nations:

Belarus

Belarus have reached the Semi-Finals in three of their six previous appearances  winning a bronze medal in 2007. However, Belarus have lost their last five games at Final Round and this is the current longest losing streak among the teams of this edition.

Belgium

Belgium have won 10 games during their last two appearances at Final Round, while only winning 11 games in the previous nine editions they played in. Belgium have reached the Quarter-Finals in their last three appearances, after failing to make it to that stage in their previous four tournaments.

Czech Republic

Czech Republic will take part in their 13th Final Round and have not missed a single tournament since their first appearance in 1995. They scored only 20% of their 3-pointers attempted at the 2017 edition, less than any other team.

France

France have qualified for their 32nd FIBA Women’s EuroBasket which is joint-most with Italy. They are the only team to have won a medal in each of the last five editions and with 13225 points in competition history, have scored more than any other team. However, they have never managed to score 100+ points in any of their 222 games in the competition. They have won their last 11 consecutive games in the Group Phase of Final Round, which is the longest active run among all teams in that stage of the competition. 

Great Britain

Great Britain have lost their last five consecutive games in the Group Stage at Final Round, with with three of those defeats being by a margin of 22+ points. Great Britain are the only team with an average of 40+ rebounds per game at Final Round since 1995 (among all teams with 10 or more games).

Hungary

Hungary are the only team to have taken part in 25+ editions of Final Round, but are still waiting to land the title. itself. Hungary have lost the most games in Final Round history while leading at half-time (27 games) and have not won more than one game during the Group stage of the competition since 2001.

Italy

Italy have qualified for their 32nd  Final Round and along with France (also 32), no other nations have taken part in more  tournaments than Italy. They won the first ever  FIBA Women’s EuroBasket title in 1938 but have failed to repeat that conquest in any of the following years, the largest span without winning the title for any team with a gold medal in the competition (81 years). They have also not made it to the semi-finals since 1995.

Latvia

This will also be the eighth consecutive Final Round appearance for Latvia.  They scored only 38.6% of their 2-pointers attempted at the 2017 edition, less than any other team, but still booked a ticket to the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup. Meanwhile Latvia have lost their last nine games in which they have conceded more than 70 points at Final Round.

Montenegro

Montenegro will take part in their fifth Final Round and have never failed to compete in a tournament edition since they first took part back in 2011. They are one of the four teams of this year’s edition to have never finished in the Top 5 at Final Round. At the 2017 edition, they scored only 57.7 points per game, which was less than any other team.

Russia

Russia will take part in their 14th consecutive Final Round -  the longest active streak among all teams in Europe. Russia have not reached the Semi-Finals in any of their last three consecutive appearances, after being on the podium in their previous seven editions in a row.

Serbia

Serbia will take part in their eighth FIBA Women’s EuroBasket, with their best result in the competition coming in 2015,when they won the title for the first time. They have won 17 of the 21 games in which they have scored more than 70 points at Final Round.  Jelena Brooks has already scored the most points (328) among all Serbian players at the event down the years.

Slovenia

Slovenia finished 14th place in the 2017 edition, which was their debut at the event.  Therefore they are the team with the least appearances in the tournament among the 16 teams that will compete this year. Slovenia have not yet scored 70+ points in a game at Final Round. In their only appearance two years ago, they averaged 26 fouls per game - more than any other nation. They were also the only team with four players averaging 10+ points per game.

Spain

Spain have won the title in two of the last three FIBA Women’s EuroBasket tournaments, but have not yet been able to win consecutive gold medals. This will be their 10th consecutive appearance at Final Round and have reached the Semi-Finals in eight of their last nine appearances - the most among all teams in the competition in that span. Spain have also scored more 3-pointers (481) than any other team at Final Round (since 1995).

Sweden

Sweden's best performance so far is a seventh place during both 1987 and 2013. They are one of the only two teams this year to have not taken part in the 2017 and are one of the four teams of this year’s edition to have never finished in the Top 5 at a Final Round.  Sweden have conceded on average 78.3 points per game at Final Round - more than any other team.

Turkey

Turkey have made it to Final Round for the eighth consecutive time and have not missed any tournament since they first appeared back in 2005. Isil Alben is the only player to have made more than one double-double with points and assists at he FIBA Women’s EuroBasket since 2005 – she has done it twice. 

Ukraine

 Ukraine will take part in their ninth Final Round and have qualified for their fourth consecutive one, for the first time in their history. They won the title in 1995 but have only won 17.9% of their games at Final Round during the 21st Century (5/28), less than any other team that will take part at this year's edition.

FIBA