Belgium Wins Second Consecutive EuroBasket Women Title, Qualifies for 2026 World Cup

Belgium's women's basketball team, the Belgian Cats, have solidified their status as a dominant force in European basketball by winning back-to-back EuroBasket titles in 2023 and 2025, including a dramatic 67-65 comeback victory over Spain in the 2025 final. This achievement makes them only the third nation, alongside the Soviet Union and Spain, to successfully defend the EuroBasket crown. Key players such as Emma Meesseman, the tournament MVP, along with Kyara Linskens, Julie Vanloo, and Julie Allemand, delivered exceptional performances that propelled the team to victory. Under the experienced coaching of Mike Thibault, who took over in January 2025, the team continued to build on the foundation laid by former coach Rachid Meziane. Their success has earned them direct qualification for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 in Berlin and set their sights on future global competitions, including the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Belgium's rise from an unranked team in 2016 to continental champions with global ambitions highlights the impact of strategic funding and development efforts by the Belgian Olympic Committee and related bodies.