The Belgian women’s basketball team broke another record on Thursday night, winning in front of the most fans of any FIBA Women’s EuroBasket qualifier. They face Poland on Sunday for the fourth of six EuroBasket qualifying matches
-The national women’s basketball team, Belgian Cats, bested the Lithuanian team 81-70 last night in front of more than 10,600 cheering fans at the Sportpaleis in Antwerp. The match goes down in history as the highest attendance ever recorded for a FIBA Women's EuroBasket qualifier.
The event that broke through the 10,000-fan ceiling for the first time was the Cats third qualifying match for the European championships EuroBasket. It was also televised live on Canvas. A crowded Sportpaleis is “fantastic,” said Belgian Cat Elise Ramette following the match. “It really does help us to see the fans keep coming. The really do help us get through the match, and I am so grateful to them.”
Earlier this year, the Cats drew nearly 14,000 to the Sportpaleis, breaking the record for the biggest crowd any Belgian women’s team has ever seen at home.
We’re the European champions, and we want to show everyone that on Sunday
Julie Allemand
The Cats are the current European Champions, winning the biennial EuroBasket in 2023. It was the first time the Belgian team had ever won the women’s championship in the event’s 39 editions.
The Cats now face Poland on Sunday for the fourth of six qualifying matches. The Belgian side lost to Poland last year in the first qualifying match for Eurobasket , which takes place next June. “We haven’t forgotten that defeat,” said Cat Julie Allemand. “That’s an extra motivation for us. We’re the European champions, and we want to show everyone that on Sunday.”
Allemand was the strongest player in last night’s game, with 16 points, nine assists and not a single turnover in 35 of the 40-minute total playing time. WNBA star Emma Meesseman was the top scorer with 17 points.
The Belgium vs Poland match will be televised live on Canvas at 20.20 on Sunday (10 November).