Israeli sports

Maccabi cruises, Hapoel rallies as Tel Aviv basketball derby looms

The round of games was also overshadowed by the death of Hapoel Galil Elyon’s Israeli guard Raz Adam last week at the age of 26 in a car accident.

MAY 26, 2026|ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN

TAMIR BLATT and Maccabi Tel Aviv are rounding into form ahead of a derby this week vs Hapoel and then the upcoming playoffs.

A wonderful career. Bibars photographed wearing the Israeli national team uniform

Former Israeli national soccer captain Bibars Natcho retires from the sport

Israeli soccer legend and former national team captain Bibars Natcho announces retirement, saying "My journey has come to an end."

MAY 21, 2026|ByWALLA! SPORTS, SPORTS SYSTEM 1

OVER HIS four-year tenure in Israel, Richard Priestman’s calm precision and world-class expertise helped transform the country’s national archery program into an emerging international force.

The zen of the siren: Richard Priestman and the architecture of Israeli archery stillness

At 71, Priestman is back home, cleaning his apartment and “recharging” after a tenure that saw him lead a nation with almost no archery pedigree into the global elite.

MAY 6, 2026|ByITAY GODER

WHILE KEEPING it a tight game, Hapoel Tel Aviv (in red) fell to Real Madrid 86-82 in their Euroleague quarterfinal series opener in Spain.

Real Madrid edges Hapoel Tel Aviv in Euroleague series opener

Facundo Campazzo led Real Madrid past Hapoel Tel Aviv as the Reds dropped Game 1 of their Euroleague quarterfinal series.

MAY 1, 2026|ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN

Blue-and-white closes strong with 7th place at U19 World Cup

The Israel Under-19 National Team wrapped up a historic run at the FIBA U19 World Cup with a 79-68 win over host nation Switzerland, clinching seventh place.

JULY 6, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF

OREN SAHAR took a lead role over Israel's last few games at the FIBA Under-19 World Cup, scoring a team-high 21 points in the blue-and-white's 79-68 victory over Switzerland to clinch a seventh-place finish

Israel's basketball star Maya Zilbershlag embraces challenge at U18 Euros tournament

Maya Zilbershlag has been listed on FIBA’s website as one of the “10 Players to Watch” and led Israel with 16 points in the opening loss to France.

JULY 6, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN

MAYA ZILBERSHLAG and the Israel Under-18 Women’s National Team have high hopes despite a tough group at the European Championship in La Palma, Spain

Israeli tennis teen star Mika Buchnik bows out at Wimbledon

She was on Court 5 of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, trailing badly in a first-round Wimbledon Girls’ Singles match. Still, she wanted to capture the moment.

JULY 6, 2025ByMICHAEL J. LEWIS

MIKA BUCHNIK returns a shot to China’s Rueien Zhang during the 18-year-old Israeli’s 7-5, 7-6(6) loss over the weekend in the Wimbledon Juniors tournament.

Double draft delight: Israelis Ben Saraf, Danny Wolf unite with the Brooklyn Nets

On this night, two young Jewish athletes made the world stop and take notice – together, in black and white, at the very heart of basketball’s most diverse city.

JULY 5, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF

BEN SARAF (L) and DANNY WOLF are slated to become the first Israeli teammates in the NBA.

NBA Draft-bound 19-year-old Israeli guard Ben Saraf shines on big stage

Israeli teen sensation leads Ulm vs Bayern in German finals, strengthens case for 1st-round pick.

JUNE 23, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN

BEN SARAF drives to the basket while playing for Ulm against Bayern Munich in the German Bundesliga finals, which the 19-year-old Israeli hopes to win tonight ahead of the NBA Draft.

Israel U19 basketball team heads to FIBA World Championship in Europe

Israel’s U19 basketball team overcomes hurdles to compete in the FIBA World Championship this June.

JUNE 23, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN

ISRAEL’S UNDER-18 National Team poses after its fourth-place finish at the 2024 EuroBasket clinched the country a spot in this year’s Under-18 World Championship.

Israeli basketball team given 24-hour ultimatum on FIBA U19 World Cup participation

Several countries have offered to host the team for training purposes, but without security clearance and logistical approval, the squad remains sidelined.

JUNE 17, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF

THE ISRAEL Under-18 team celebrates in August 2024 after qualifying for this year’s U19 World Championships, a tournament that is now in jeopardy for the blue-and-white squad due to the ongoing war with Iran

Maccabiah Games postponed to 2026 in shadow of Israel's war with Iran

The 2025 Maccabiah Games, set for July, have been postponed until 2026 due to escalating security risks in Israel.

JUNE 16, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF

THEN US PRESIDENT Joe Biden poses with athletes at the opening ceremony of the 21st Maccabiah in Jerusalem in July 2022. On Monday, this year's edition of the Games was officially postponed until next summer due to the war with Iran.

The games must not go on: Iran attacks halt Israeli basketball finals, other sports

Celebrations quickly gave way to anxiety as sirens echoed across central Israel and the specter of war overshadowed the sports world.

JUNE 16, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN

YAD ELIYAHU sits empty as the Israel basketball league finals remain on hold amid escalating tensions with Iran. The decisive Game 3 between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Jerusalem has been indefinitely postponed due to security concerns

Rishon-vs-Eilat Leumit League finals heads to decisive Game 5

Maccabi Rishon Lezion defeated Hapoel Eilat 92-87 to knot up the Leumit Final series at 2-2 and send it to a winner-take-all fifth game down south by the Red Sea.

JUNE 10, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN