The Polish women’s basketball team faces a high-stakes test on Wednesday as they open the second round of EuroBasket 2027 qualifiers against Israel.
Scheduled for 18:40 in Riga, Latvia, the match marks the start of a three-game window for coach Karol Kowalewski’s squad as they pursue their first tournament qualification since 2015.
Fantasy Managers Monitor Squad Scratches and Betting Context
- Roster Depth: With only 12 spots available per game from a 13-player squad, fantasy managers and observers should monitor the final pre-game lineup to see which athlete is designated as the scratch. The final squad will exclude Zuzanna Kulińska, Anna Pawłowska, Natalia Rutkowska, and Magdalena Szymkiewicz from the designated lineup.
- Betting Context: While Poland holds a historical 80:45 victory over Israel from 2003, the current qualifying stage includes high-level competition, making this opening fixture a bellwether for group progression. Dołączą do nich Czechy, Francja, Hiszpania, Niemcy, Turcja, Węgry i Włochy, czyli zespoły, które we wrześniu rywalizowały w mistrzostwach świata.
The Tactical Shift: Moving Beyond the First Round
Poland’s campaign to date has been defined by dominance, having swept the first round with a 6-0 record against Cyprus, Slovakia, and Romania. However, the technical challenge shifts significantly now that the team has advanced to Group I, where they face Izrael, Montenegro, and Turkey.
“Mamy nadzieję, że to nie będą tak strome schody,” said Karol Kowalewski, head coach of the Polish team. Kowalewski acknowledged that Israel represents a difficult, unconventional opponent.
Despite not being the tallest team on the court, the Israelis rely on high-efficiency perimeter shooting, which poses a specific defensive challenge for Poland’s interior-focused rotation. The Polish team last appeared at the European Championships 11 years ago, though they hold historical honors including a 1999 gold medal, silver in 1980 and 1981, and bronze in 1938 and 1968.
Polish Squad Finalizes Preparations in Gorzów Wielkopolski
The Polish squad finalized their preparations in Gorzów Wielkopolski, where 13 players were selected to travel to Riga. According to the Polish Basketball Association, the selection process involved careful coordination between coaching staff and medical personnel to manage the workload of players arriving from international club commitments. Stephanie Mavunga, currently playing for Emlak Konut SK in Turkey, is a vital part of the team’s offensive structure, according to Kowalewski.
The roster features a mix of domestic and international experience, with players from clubs such as Valencia BC and Flammes Carolo Basket, supported by a staff including Aleksandra Wojtala from AZS UMCS Lublin.
| Player Name | Club Affiliation |
|---|---|
| Liliana Banaszak | Flammes Carolo Basket (France) |
| Kamila Borkowska | Valencia BC (Spain) |
| Stephanie Mavunga | Emlak Konut SK (Turkey) |
| Klaudia Gertchen | Enea AJP Gorzów Wielkopolski (Poland) |
| Anna Makurat | Kibirkstis-TOKS (Lithuania) |
Strategic Implications for the November Window
The match against Israel is just the first of three grueling encounters. Following the game in Riga, the team travels to Podgorica to face Montenegro, before returning to Poland for a high-profile home game against Turkey at the Arena Gorzów on November 17. PZKosz president Grzegorz Bachański described the upcoming Turkey fixture as an “absolute hit” and the most important point of this intensive qualifying window.
“Czujemy się wyróżnieni, że akurat ten konkretny mecz odbędzie się w województwie Lubuskim, tutaj w najpiękniejszym obiekcie nie tylko w naszym województwie, ale i całej Polsce – Arenie Gorzów,” said Anna Synowiec, przewodnicząca sejmiku lubuskiego.
“To w takich spotkaniach wykuwa się awans na mistrzostwa Europy,” said Grzegorz Bachański, prezes Polskiego Związku Koszykówki.
“Jesteśmy dumni, że reprezentacja zagra właśnie w naszym obiekcie, nowoczesnej Arenie, która zawsze potrafi stworzyć wyjątkową atmosferę,” said Małgorzata Domagała, deputy mayor of Gorzów, as reported by the City of Gorzów. The proximity of the Gorzów-based players—Klaudia Gertchen, Magdalena Szymkiewicz, and Weronika Telenga—to the national team has further solidified the local support.
As the team looks to break a 12-year absence from the EuroBasket tournament, the focus remains entirely on execution. Podczas EuroBasketu w 2003 roku reprezentacja Polski odniosła zdecydowane zwycięstwo nad Izraelem 80:45, jednak od tamtego czasu składy obu drużyn uległy całkowitej zmianie. Live text coverage and match results will be available via Interia Sport.
Disclaimer: The fantasy and market insights provided are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute financial or betting advice.
