In one of the most remarkable upsets in the history of the Women’s U20 European Basketball Championship, Israel stunned reigning champion France 81-74 in the round-of-16, securing a place in the quarterfinals and confirming its spot in Division A for next year’s tournament.
After a winless group stage, few would have predicted such a dramatic turnaround – but led by a brilliant 32-point performance from Gal Raviv, the Israeli team rose to the occasion in unforgettable fashion in Senhora da Hora, Portugal.
Just a year after leading Israel to its best-ever fourth-place finish at the U18 European Championship – and suffering a humiliating 97–25 loss to France in the semifinals – Raviv and her teammates returned to the same arena in Portugal with a vengeance.
This time, they flipped the script. The Israelis came out aggressive, launching a blistering 25-12 first-quarter run fueled by a fierce defensive effort that forced 13 French turnovers. That early cushion proved vital, as France, unbeaten since 2022 and widely seen as the tournament favorite, spent the remainder of the game playing catch-up.
Despite dropping the next three quarters, Israel maintained its composure. France chipped away at the lead and came within five points in the final minute, but the Israeli side made clutch plays when it mattered most. Raviv hit a crucial jumper in the closing moments, and Ayala Oren followed with a dagger three-pointer to restore a double-digit lead that silenced the French rally and sealed the result.
Raviv’s performance was nothing short of sensational. In addition to her 32 points – including a critical fourth-quarter three – she added five assists and two steals, commanding the game with poise and purpose.
Maya Zilbershlag was another key contributor off the bench, scoring 16 points with two three-pointers and a perfect 8-of-8 from the free-throw line. Maayan Cohen added 11 points, including a momentum-shifting triple to close the third quarter, while Oren finished with nine points and Tamer Cohen chipped in five.
Israel’s fearless start saw Oren, Raviv, Cohen, Mika Beitan, and Tamer Cohen open with strong defensive intensity, building a quick 7-2 lead. France answered briefly, but Zilbershlag’s introduction changed the tempo. She poured in 10 first-quarter points – including two threes – driving a 13-0 run that put Israel firmly in control.
France responded early in the second quarter by tightening up on defense and holding Israel without a field goal for five minutes, but consistent scoring from the free-throw line helped keep the lead intact. A timely triple from Oren pushed the margin back to 16, before an 8-0 French burst cut the gap in half. Raviv’s penetrating drive just before halftime gave Israel a 38-28 edge at the break.
France came out determined in the second half, attacking the paint to reduce the deficit to six. But Israel refused to buckle. Maayan Cohen, scoreless in the first half, erupted with three triples in the third quarter, while Raviv continued to draw fouls and get to the line. Israel entered the final period up 61-53, and Raviv promptly scored seven straight points to push the margin back to 12.
With under three minutes to go, Oren drilled a long-range shot at the shot-clock buzzer to make it 73-60, seemingly ending the contest. France made one last push, cutting the lead to five, but Raviv’s cool under pressure ensured there would be no collapse.
'Victory was a statement of belief and resilience'
The win marked a personal triumph for Raviv, who came into the summer off a historic freshman year in the NCAA and had just become the all-time leading scorer at the Women’s U19 World Cup. Once again, she rose to the occasion in crunch time and proved she belongs on the biggest international stage.
Beyond the immediate jubilation, the victory was a statement of belief and resilience. Coming off a group stage in which they were soundly beaten – including losses by 25 and 24 points – Israel entered the knockout round as the bottom seed in Group A.
Their opponent, France, had cruised through the first phase with an unbeaten record and dominant performances, including 40+ point wins. But the Israeli players, many of whom were born in 2005 like their French counterparts, refused to be intimidated.
With this sensational result, Israel not only advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time in U20 history, but also ensured their place in Division A next summer – a significant achievement in itself. As the final buzzer sounded, the Israeli bench erupted in celebration while the French were left stunned.
Now, head coach Tal Nathan and his team turn their attention to the next challenge: a quarterfinal showdown against the winner of the Italy vs Latvia matchup. After proving that anything is possible, this Israeli team will look to make even more history.