Israel Women's National Under-20 Basketball Team

The team is Israel's women's national side for players under age 20, competing primarily in FIBA's European championship for the age group. Its current under-20 format dates to 2000.[1] Israel won the Division B title in 2005 behind tournament MVP Shay Doron.[2]

Israel returned to the top-tier Division A in 2022 and finished ninth, seventh, and sixth in its first three tournaments back.[4] In 2026, the team reached its first European final and claimed the first European championship medal won by an Israeli women's national basketball team.[3][3]

The women's competition began using its current under-20 format in 2000. A 2010 historical review also reported that no Israeli youth national team would compete in the top European division in 2011.[1]

The program's first moment of international prominence came in 2005, when the team — playing at the Division B level — won the European Championship in Brno, Czech Republic. The result was described as the first international tournament title won by an Israeli women's basketball team.[2] Shay Doron averaged 24.7 points per game and was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.[2]

After years in the lower European division, Israel returned to Division A of the European Under-20 Championship in 2022 under head coach Tal Natan. Its first three finishes after returning were ninth, seventh, and sixth.[4] The sixth-place result in 2025 was then the best in the team's history.[5]

Many members of the 2026 under-20 core had earlier led Israel's girls' under-18 team to fourth place in Europe, then the highest finish by an Israeli women's national team. That result brought Israel its first qualification for the FIBA Women's Under-19 World Cup.[6] At the 2025 world championship, Israel finished ninth.[5]

At the 2025 European Under-20 Championship, Israel entered the knockout rounds without a group-stage win.[7] In the round of 16, it upset reigning two-time European champion France 81–74. Israel led throughout and held France to 35 percent shooting and four made three-pointers.[7] Gal Raviv scored 32 points, Maya Zilbershlag added 16, and Maayan Cohen contributed 11.[7]

The team ultimately finished sixth in Europe, securing the placing after a game-winning basket by Raviv against Turkey.[5] Raviv averaged 22.9 points and 4.9 assists per game with a 22.1 efficiency rating, while Zilbershlag averaged 8.5 points and shot 45.5 percent from three-point range.[5] The sixth-place result stood as the program's best European finish heading into 2026.

The 2026 FIBA U20 Women's EuroBasket was held in Lithuania and featured 16 national teams.[5] Israel was placed in Group A alongside defending champion Spain, Croatia, and host Lithuania. Tal Natan coached the team during his 35th season working with Israeli national teams.[5] The 12-player roster included Gal Raviv, Ayala Oren, Maayan Cohen, Maya Zilbershlag, Mai Baiko, Li Teichman, Neta Meishar, Ariel Solomon, Noa Magid, Naomi Cohen-Mintz, Tehila Cohen, and Maya Almalih. The staff included assistant coach Omri Tzirlín, scouting coach Shani Friedman, strength coach Kennet Hayle, physiotherapist Michal Neuberger-Nissim, and team manager Noa Rakanti.[5]

Israel opened with a narrow 68–66 loss to Spain, in which Raviv scored 33 points and made five three-pointers.[8] The team then defeated Croatia 87–85. With 1.2 seconds remaining and Israel holding a two-point lead, Ayala Oren drew a foul on a three-point attempt, made the first two free throws, and intentionally missed the third to prevent Croatia from obtaining a final possession.[9] Raviv scored 26 points, including 25 after halftime, and added nine assists.[9]

On July 7, Israel secured second place in Group A by defeating host Lithuania 74–71 after trailing 35–29 at halftime. Raviv led the comeback with 35 points.[10] Israel then defeated Hungary 96–79 in the round of 16 to reach the quarterfinals.[3]

In the quarterfinal, Israel faced previously unbeaten Poland and overcame a double-digit deficit to win 80–79.[4] Raviv finished with 37 points on 7-of-14 three-point shooting, eight rebounds, and six assists. Zilbershlag added 16 points, Oren 13, and Cohen eight.[4] The victory sent Israel to its first European Under-20 Championship semifinal.[4]

Israel defeated Belgium 78–69 in the semifinal, guaranteeing the program's first European championship podium finish.[11] Maayan Cohen scored 26 points and made eight three-pointers on 14 attempts.[11] Oren contributed 16 points, seven rebounds, and six assists, while Raviv recorded 13 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds.[11] Before the final, Raviv led the tournament in scoring at 28 points per game, efficiency at 31.7 per game, and assists at 7.2 per game.[6]

France opened the final with an 18–0 run, leaving Israel in a substantial first-quarter deficit.[3] France led 44–31 at halftime and extended the margin to 23 points in the third quarter. Israel opened the fourth period with a 9–0 run, but France ultimately prevailed 79–66.[3]

Israel's starting lineup was Maayan Cohen, Ayala Oren, Mai Baiko, Maya Zilbershlag, and Gal Raviv.[3] Raviv led Israel with 29 points and eight rebounds and was selected to the tournament's All-Star Five.[3][3] Oren scored 16 points and collected 10 rebounds, while Zilbershlag scored 12 points and added six rebounds.[3] The silver medal was the first won by an Israeli women's national basketball team at a European championship.[3]

Coach Tal Natan attributed the achievement to the players' desire to succeed, mutual affection, and special bond. He said that observing their relationships at the hotel convinced him that their chemistry helped them recover from stressful games and maintain the physical and mental readiness required to compete on consecutive evenings.[3] The team returned to a welcome at Ben-Gurion International Airport from family members, supporters, and Israel Basketball Association officials, followed by a celebratory press conference.[3]

The 2026 silver medal was described as the greatest achievement in the history of Israeli women's basketball.[12][3] The broader landscape of Israeli women's club basketball has long included domestic competition between Elitzur Ramle and Anda Ramat Hasharon, with both clubs also participating in European competitions.[13]

The national team's result built on the same player core's fourth-place under-18 finish and Israel's first qualification for the FIBA Women's Under-19 World Cup.[5][6] It also continued the under-20 team's progression after its 2022 return to Division A, following finishes of ninth, seventh, and sixth with a second-place finish in 2026.[4][3]