Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Women's EuroBasket match.
One of the leading contenders at Women's EuroBasket, Spain begin their campaign against Great Britain. A win for the Spanish team is widely expected, but will it really be that straightforward?
Great Britain (women)
It's far too early to write off Great Britain. In the previous Women's EuroBasket, the squad advanced to the play-offs and pushed Serbia all the way, losing by just six points. They clearly come into this tournament aiming to progress beyond the group stage. One to watch is Temi Fagbenle — the centre recently returned from the WNBA, where she averaged 10.3 points and 6.1 rebounds across 10 games this season.
Spain (women)
Spain arrive at the tournament with a significantly weakened roster compared to their previous Women's EuroBasket campaign. They will be without key players such as Queralt Casas, Maite Cazorla, and Maria Conde. Of the veterans, only Maria Conde remains, now surrounded by a much younger supporting cast. Their warm-up match against Portugal ended 68:59, suggesting that the focus will once again be on defence. However, they could face difficulties on the offensive end.
Great Britain (women) vs Spain (women) Prediction
We believe expectations of a dominant win for Spain are overly optimistic. The current squad raises valid concerns, and their defensive setup may give the opposition a chance to stay in the game. It’s unlikely they'll open the tournament with a commanding victory.
