The Ireland Women's basketball team are due to take on Israel in a crucial FIBA EuroBasket Qualifier this week. Here's all you need to know about Ireland v Israel.
The game has sparked controversy in recent weeks as many have called on Basketball Ireland to boycott the game due to the worsening human rights situation in Gaza. The match, originally due to be played in November was postponed and then transferred to a neutral venue which is Riga, Latvia. If Ireland boycotted the game as well as the return fixture they could've faced a fine of up to €180,000 and possible expulsion from the Women's EuroBasket 2025 tournament, further down the line. As a result Basketball Ireland have decided to fulfil the fixture.
Speaking to RTE during the week, Basketball Ireland CEO John Feehan said:
“We have huge sympathy for what’s happening in Gaza. All the players, whether they’re in Latvia or not, feel the same way. But the reality is, is it going to make a blind bit of difference if we make a grand gesture and the simple answer to that is, in our view, no.”
“I'm not prepared to destroy my sport for a gesture that will have no impact”.
Ireland lost their first qualifier against France in Dublin back in November. They are due to play Latvia in Dublin in November with the return fixture of this game a couple days later.
READ HERE: Irish Musician’s Song Making Waves Thanks To College Basketball Player On TikTok
Basketball Ireland CEO John Feehan has said that a boycott by the Ireland women's team of their EuroBasket qualifier against Israel would mean a 10-year long spell in the wilderness for the sport in this country. pic.twitter.com/5uetXRd9i5
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) February 6, 2024
When Is Ireland v Israel
The game will take place on Wednesday the 8th of February in the Rimi Olympic Centre, Riga.
How to Watch Ireland v Israel
The match will be live streamed on the FIBA YouTube channel with it beginning at 4:30pm GMT/5:30pm CET.
You can watch the game below.
Team News
Head Coach James Weldon has included three new caps in his squad for the qualifier. These come in the shape of The Address UCC Glanmire’s Amy Dooley, Ulster University’s Alex Mulligan and 17-year-old Grace Prenter of Trinity Meteors.
Ireland are missing a number of key players with as many as 5 players refusing to travel to Latvia. However, the most notable absentee is captain Edel Thornton who is set for a spell on the sidelines following an ACLinjury.
Speaking to RTE Weldon said:
"It's obviously a blow to be missing Edel and other players, due to a variety of reasons," said Weldon.
"Our players are not all full-time pros and have to juggle work, study, sporting and personal commitments, among other things. However, we are building squad depth, we had four players make their FIBA Women’s EuroBasket bow against France in November - Annaliese Murphy, Lauryn Homan, Kate Hickey and Kara McCleane – and now we have three more players in line for their international debuts in this game.
"It will increase the pool of talent that we have at our disposal over the rest of the qualifying campaign, which is a huge positive."
The Ireland squad which will compete in our FIBA @EuroBasketWomen 2025 Qualifier against 🇮🇱 on Thursday.
3️⃣🆕🧢
🆕©
2️⃣nd game of Group E 💪#Greenmeansgo ☘️ | #EuroBasketWomen pic.twitter.com/Ruxnn53P1W— Basketball Ireland (@BballIrl) February 5, 2024
SEE ALSO: Paris McCarthy: From The All-Ireland Final To Division One Basketball
