Who was each nation's MVP of the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2023?
MUNICH (Germany) - With the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2023 in the books, it's time to take a look at who was the standout player for each competing nation.
There were some impressive standout performances throughout the campaign in Tel Aviv and Ljubljana, but who put their country on their back and delivered when it mattered most?
Here's the list of every country's MVP.
Belgium
Emma Meesseman - PF/C / 1.93m / 1993
Statistics: 21.7 PPG; 8.7 RPG; 5.2 APG; 4.3 SPG
MVP! MVP! MVP! Just an absolute colossus, her award as the tournament's best player says it all. Meesseman also made history after becoming the first ever player to claim a triple-double at the event. And now, she is clutching the winners medal she has craved.
Czech Republic
Natalie Stoupalova - PF/C / 1.85m / 1998
Statistics: 10.7 PPG; 4.0 RPG; 2.2 APG
It was a super tournament for Czech Republic even if they suffered the double heartache of only just missing out on the Semi-Finals and then the OQT's. Stoupalova posted a breakout tournament and led the team in both scoring and efficiency.
France
Legend of the game 💙🤍❤️
— #EuroBasketWomen 2023 (@EuroBasketWomen) June 24, 2023
Sandrine moves into #2 in the all-time #EuroBasketWomen rebounding charts. ⬆️
Sandrine Gruda - C / 1.93m / 1987
Statistics: 10.2 PPG; 4.3 RPG
They might not be the biggest numbers the French legend has ever posted, but without her, it's unlikely France would have banked an eighth straight medal. Gruda used all of her veteran know-how to cement her status as one of the tournament's All-Time greats.
Germany
Marie Guelich - PF/C / 1.95m / 1994
Statistics: 11.8 PPG; 9.5 RPG; 2.7 APG; 16.9 EFF
The frontcourt star provided the platform for Germany's best work as they celebrated making the Quarter-Finals and then the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments. Guelich did the business in the paint after recording a near competition double-double.
Great Britain
Temi Fagbenle - C/PF / 1.93m / 1992
Statistics: 18.0 PPG; 7.0 RPG; 3.0 APG; 20.3 EFF
Named captain shortly before the event, Fagbenle led by example with some trademark displays in the paint as she racked up 18 points per game. She also contributed in other areas, played smart and showed she'll be a leader for the Brits for a long time to come.
Greece
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Mariella Fasoula - C / 1.93m / 1997
Statistics: 18.3 PPG; 10.3 RPG;18.0 EFF
Squeezing out fellow frontcourt star Artemis Spanou, it was a typically influential offering from Fasoula. She clocked a classy tournament double-double and used her strength and efficiency to almost take her team to the Quarter-Finals, but it just wasn't to be.
Hungary
Virag Kiss - C/PF / 1.94m / 1998
Statistics: 14.8 PPG; 5.8 RPG
This was a super breakout tournament for Kiss as she came up big for her country. She was a driving force behind them making the top four. Kiss impressed with 21 points in the big Group Phase win against Serbia and the same tally France in the bronze medal game.
Israel
Yarden Garzon - SF / 1.83m / 2003
Statistics: 11.3 PPG; 3.7 RPG; 2.3 APG
The one bright spot to come out of an otherwise forgettable campaign for the co-hosts was the play of Garzon who had been one of the young players to watch listed before the action got underway. She lived up to the hype and individually, can be proud of her play.
Italy
Cecilia Zandalasini - SG/SF / 1.86m / 1996
Statistics: 15.0 PPG; 5.8 RPG; 4.3 APG; 17.5 EFF
It was a tournament to forget for Italy who had been fancied for a deep run, but they couldn't make it. Zandalasini torched Israel with 33 points as a highlight in the Group Phase, but couldn't come up with a big show in the crunch loss to Montenegro in their last game.
Latvia
Kitija Laksa - SG/SF / 1.86m / 1996
Statistics: 15.7 PPG; 2.0 APG; 15.7 EFF
There was real heartache for Latvia after their upside down campaign that saw a win against Spain followed by losses to Montenegro and Greece. Laksa shot the ball well and showed her offensive firepower, just edging out teammate Anete Steinberga as Latvia's MVP.
Montenegro
Complete domination. 😳
— #EuroBasketWomen 2023 (@EuroBasketWomen) June 18, 2023
Natasha Mack's statline tonight was ridiculous.
📊 22 PTS | 20 REB | 3 AST | 2 STL | 2 BLK pic.twitter.com/HK01Hfv5Z3
Natasha Mack - PF/C / 1.93m / 1997
Statistics: 13.8 PPG; 11.0 RPG; 22.8 EFF
A stunning debut for the naturalized Mack who posted a tournament double-double. Perhaps most impressively, while she returned super numbers, she played a palpable role as a team player for her adopted country when she needed to, working hard throughout.
Serbia
Yvonne Anderson - PG / 1.75m / 1990
Statistics: 16.0 PPG; 3.4 RPG; 3.9 APG;
It was an up and down tournament for Serbia and one of the few consistent aspects of their play was that Anderson was generally operating in a higher gear - unlike a lot of her teammates. The playmaker led the way in efficiency, scoring, assists and steals.
Slovakia
Barbora Wrzesinski - PG / 1.79m / 1994
Statistics: 11.5 PPG; 3.8 RPG; 4.3 APG;
While the numbers of the playmaker are not exactly eye-popping, her leadership for Slovakia stood out as they managed to get past the Group Phase, perhaps against the expectations of some. Wrzesinski showed her usual composure and quality throughout.
Slovenia
Teja Oblak - PG/SG / 1.72m / 1990
Statistics: 17.0 PPG; 5.0 RPG; 6.0 APG; 16.0 EFF
It was a tough ask for co-hosts Slovenia to emerge from a so-called 'Group of Death' and their captain did everything she could to lead them through it. Her 17 points, 6 assists and 5 boards per game speak volumes about how she produced despite a losing campaign.
Spain
Alba Torrens - SG/SF / 1.82m / 1989
Statistics: 11.5 PPG; 3.7 RPG; 2.0 APG;
Becoming the All-Time leading Spanish scorer at the FIBA Women's EuroBasket tells you all you need to know about this legendary baller. Without her epic Semi-Finals display, Spain might not have made the Final and she deserved her TISSOT All-Star Five spot.
Turkey
Teaira McCowan - C / 2.04m / 1996
Statistics: 14.0 PPG; 8.7 RPG; 15.3 EFF
Injured in the lead up to the event and not always looking comfortable in her play, McCowan still somehow managed to come out as Turkey's top player in a campaign that was ultimately forgettable after being eliminated at the first hurdle of the group stage.
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