GB Women’s November Roster

GB Women’s roster for November’s EuroBasket Women Qualifier against Poland has today been confirmed.

Nine players from February’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament return for another international window with the squad: Kristine Anigwe, Chantel Charles, Temi Fagbenle, Nicolette Fong Lyew Quee, Cheridene Green, Chantelle Handy, Georgia Jones, Janice Monakana and Hannah Shaw.

Eilidh Simpson, who missed out on February’s games due to injury, returns to the team for the first time since last November’s trip to Poland. Sevenoaks Suns’ Renee Busch also returns to the squad, having previously featured on four occasions since her debut versus Belarus in 2013.

The squad will also feature two debutants as they travel to the bubble in Istanbul next week, with Samantha Roscoe and Evelyn Adebayo both receiving their first call up to the senior squad. The duo currently play domestically with Goettingen (Germany) and Pacisa Alcobendas (Spain) respectively

The team will also travel without a number of familiar faces from recent campaigns. Joey Leedham-Warner does not travel with the team after announcing she is expecting a baby in 2021, Rachael Vanderwal misses out due to knee surgery earlier this year and Karlie Samuelson is also unavailable for the trip.

Off court, Stef Collins has stepped in to join the coaching team as an Assistant Coach for the game while former player Azania Stewart will travel with the team as the appointed COVID Safety Officer.

Speaking ahead of the trip, Head Coach Chema Buceta believes the November window will present some new challenges to the team:

“It is a big challenge for the GB team to come back under the current circumstances created by COVID, but I am sure that our players, as always, will do their best to overcome all difficulties. We will miss players who have provided a significant contribution to the success of the team in the recent past, but we are happy to welcome new people and rely on the talent, great attitude and lack of selfishness of all players invited.

Team mentality, positive atmosphere and individual acceptance and responsibility of the role assigned will be again our main weapons. Last year we won our game against Poland, but that came after working hard on the court. We should not forget that Poland is a country with a strong basketball tradition, one team in Euroleague, some in Eurocup, a domestic league already running for a few weeks and good players. So now, one year later, we have to respect Poland and prepare well the game to be able to win”

Full Squad:

Evelyn Adebayo – Pacisa Alcobendas (Spain)

Kristine Anigwe – ÇBK Mersin Yenişehir Belediyesi  (Turkey)

Renee Busch – Sevenoaks Suns

Chantel Charles – BA London Lions

Temi Fagbenle – Umana Reyer Venezia (Italy)

Nicolette Fong Lyew Quee – Manchester Mystics

Cheridene Green – Gorzow (Poland)

Chantelle Handy – Casademont Zaragoza (Spain)

Georgia Jones – Manchester Mystics

Janice Monakana – Sevenoaks Suns

Samantha Roscoe – Goettingen (Germany)

Hannah Shaw – Manchester Mystics

Eilidh Simpson – SV Halle (Germany)