GB FALL TO SWEDEN

Great Britain lost 63-60 to Sweden in a nail-biting FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2025 qualifier on Sunday in Malmo.

Holly Winterburn was stellar, leading Great Britain with 22 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, while Temi Fagbenle secured a double-double of 21 points and 10 boards.

But their efforts – as well as the team – were to no avail. A hard-fought, bruising encounter was eventually settled at the midway point of the fourth quarter as Sweden took advantage of team fouls and misses under the basket from GB to lead for the majority of the fourth.

There was hope for the visitors, who narrowed the gap with two three-pointers with less than 90 seconds to play, but Sweden kept their composure and improved to 4-0 in Group D, dropping Great Britain to 2-2.

This means that GB realistically needs to finish the group as one of the four best second-placed teams in the qualifiers to advance to next year’s FIBA Women’s EuroBasket.

To do that, they need to win big against Estonia at home and on the road to Denmark in February’s final window.

Frida Eldebrink hit four three-pointers to lead Sweden with 19, as they become the first team to qualify for next year’s FIBA Women’s EuroBasket, thanks to this result and Estonia’s 66-58 win over Denmark in the later game.

In a sluggish opening from both sides, GB struggled in the early exchanges, only going 1/4 from the field and having three turnovers before Winterburn scored inside amongst a sea of Sweden bodies under the basket.

However, the two teams, who averaged around 70 points in the qualifiers, failed to find any offensive flow, such as the stakes available. But Great Britain held their own, taking their first lead at 10-9 with 1:35 left through Fagbenle.

And with Fagbenle collecting four points and Winterburn leading with eight, GB had a 12-11 lead after one.

The second period was a see-saw battle, with both teams matching each other blow-for-blow. Winterburn continued to find ways to get close to the basket, getting to 12 points with four minutes of the quarter played.

Sam Ashby backed her up, who rattled off five quick-fire points to force a timeout from Sweden coach Kevin Lundgren and GB leading 23-18.

Sweden managed to claw their way back, but Great Britain stood tall in a physical first half. Their efforts were rewarded on the half-time buzzer as Ashby drove nearly the length of the court to score and give her side a 28-23 lead.

Despite coach Anna Montañana’s side leading into the third period, GB only had three players in the points column, and facing a team like Sweden, other players needed to contribute.

This was especially as Sweden’s primary offensive juggernaut, Klara Lundquist, struggled with just five points on 2/9 shooting.

GB found that next offensive threat, as Hannah Jump connected from mid-range to give her side a 33-26 cushion, but Lundquist started to get going with five rapid points to keep Sweden in touch.

And GB quickly called a timeout in the midway stages of the third as their lead faded thanks to a three from Frida Eldebrink to level the scores at 33-33.

It was the highlight of a 12-2 run by the Swedes, who took the lead back before Fagbenle answered to reduce the gap to 38-37 with three minutes to play in the third.

However, Great Britain’s aggressive play forced Sweden into the penalty as they scored the remainder of their scores from the foul line. Despite holding on to their slender advantage, GB were going to be tested in the final ten minutes.

There, Sweden forced Great Britain into the penalty with less than two minutes of the fourth played and, as a result, found gaps to lead 54-47 with 6:01 left.

But GB would not lie down and let Sweden roll to victory as back-to-back three-pointers, first from Savannah Wilkinson and then by Hannah Robb in identical spots, narrowed the gap to 61-60 with 1:56 to play.

However, with the game on the line and potentially one foot in next year’s FIBA Women’s EuroBasket at stake, Lundquist kept her calm from the line and, potentially, the final dagger.

Great Britain’s Men are next in action on Thursday, 21 November against Greece at the CopperBox Arena. Get your tickets to this FIBA EuroBasket 2025 qualifier and be part of the action here.