Before Olympia in Paris - All at the Chancellor: Women's Basketball and Its Rise
From the niche to the Chancellery. The rise of the German women's basketball team in the past one and a half years is on par with that of the men led by World Champion captain Dennis Schröder. Although the team with North American league player Satou Sabally hasn't yet won a title or a medal, the joy of their first-ever Olympic participation feels long overdue after years of sadness.
The players, who mostly perform their daily work unnoticed by the public, particularly enjoy these days. A joint visit with Schröder's basketball team at Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a double header in the massive arena in Berlin, and a performance in London, where World Champion USA has invited them for a test match, have brought unprecedented attention to them before the Olympic games in Paris and Lille.
Double Tickets
"It's a wonderful opportunity we currently have. This is just the beginning. There are still great times ahead of us," said Bundestrainerin Lisa Thomaidis. The Canadian has been in charge since April 2023 and has only brought about successes since then. Finishing sixth at the first EM participation since 2011 was followed by the thrilling Olympic qualification, which ended successfully in Brazil. "Our goal is to become a top ten team worldwide," said Thomaidis.
How far they have come on this path can be seen by around 10,000 fans in Berlin. On Friday (15:15 Uhr/MagentaSport), they face Nigeria. This test match is part of a double pack offered by the German Basketball Federation (DBB), which only sells tickets as daily tickets.
"I personally like that very much, I think that's right," said President Ingo Weiss. In the evening (20:00 Uhr), the men led by Schröder face Olympic group stage opponents Japan.
Women's Bundesliga combats adversities
Schröder, the 30-year-old NBA professional, is thrilled about the rise of the women's team. "That's cool, that's great. Women's sports should be pushed more, with an event like this double match day, you get more reach. The team is very talented and has really good players," Schröder said at a press conference in Berlin. The teams get along well and spend time together during the Olympic preparations.
Similar to the days in Berlin, London, and Lille, the proceedings are likely to be different after this. Since men's basketball is a gigantic and brightly lit spectacle where Franz Wagner can earn over 200 million Euros for the Orlando Magic by 2030, women's basketball still faces conditions similar to those of amateurs. The EM 2025, where a preliminary round will be held in Hamburg, and the WM 2026 in Berlin are expected to serve as catalysts for professionalization.
The players are grateful for the opportunity in Berlin. Satou Sabally, who earns her money like Schröder and Wagner in the USA, told the German Press Agency: "I never thought I would one day play in this hall and that I would one day play in the German jersey in Berlin against another country. That's very special and I just want to soak it all up and really enjoy it because I have trained hard my entire life for this."
"Suboptimal - if I may put it nicely"
A few positions have even overtaken the basketball women with their rapid succession of achievements. Svenja Brunckhorst and Sonja Greinacher qualified for both the Olympics in 3x3 and the Women's Tournament. Before the "biggest experience of my career," Brunckhorst, who will start in the 3x3 tournament, was annoyed by the federation and the forced decision between the two competitions.
"Our plan was until recently to participate in both competitions," Brunckhorst told the "Tagesspiegel." "But then the DBB put a stop to it all." Brunckhorst, who ended her career after the games and now works as a manager for Alba Berlin's women's and girls' department, was the captain of the national team.
Brunckhorst was particularly annoyed by the communication of the federation. It was "suboptimal – if I may put it nicely." Brunckhorst and Greinacher can certainly enjoy the Olympic experience. However, the experience of playing in Berlin before a large audience will be denied to them.
- The German women's basketball team, currently on an upward trajectory, shares a similar journey of progress with the men's team, led by World Champion Captain Dennis Schröder from the United States of America.
- Despite not yet securing a title or medal, their first-ever participation in the International Olympic Games in London felt long overdue, after years of disappointment.
- The German Basketball Federation (DBB) is offering a double ticket package for the Olympic games in Paris and Lille, selling tickets only as daily tickets for this occasion.
- Schröder, a NBA professional, is thrilled about the rise of the women's team and supports the push for more recognition in women's sports.
- The event in Berlin attracted around 10,000 fans, and the German team will face Nigeria in a test match as part of this double package, which will also see Schröder's team play against Japan.
- Suzou Sabally, who earns her income playing in North America like Schröder and Franz Wagner, is grateful for the opportunity to play in Berlin in the German jersey against another country.
- The women's game still faces challenges similar to those of amateur athletes, but the upcoming EM 2025 and WM 2026 in Berlin are expected to help professionalize the sport.
- Svenja Brunckhorst and Sonja Greinacher qualified for both the Olympics in 3x3 and the Women's Tournament, but a conflict with the federation forced them to choose between the two competitions.
- Brunckhorst was disappointed with the communication from the federation, finding it suboptimal and denied the opportunity to play in Berlin before a large audience due to this conflict.
