Hiding on horizon, but FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017 will soon be in the foreground
NEWCASTLE (Paul Nilsen's Women's Basketball Worldwide) - With the domestic seasons starting and also both EuroLeague Women and EuroCup Women just around the corner, it would be easy to overlook the fact that the very last FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017 qualifier window will soon be here too.
It's going to be a massive last two game days for so many reasons and here are just some of them.
There are only 16 tickets and that makes it much, much tougher than it is for the men
Being from Great Britain, I recently celebrated the GB men managing to squeeze their way into FIBA EuroBasket 2017, which from a patriotic point of view, I was delighted with. But when everyone followed up the congratulatory note with a mention of the women now following suit, I think it failed to dawn on most people that you are comparing apples with pears. There are 50 percent less spots available. So in the case of GB, had the 24 and 16 spots been the other way around, the women would probably already be qualified for their fourth Final Round in a row [or just about] and the men would have been toast.
The reduction to 16 teams is understandable, but it makes qualification an absolutely brutal business and a real dogfight. The flipside of having less teams is that I suspect FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017 will be arguably the best all-round standard of any women's international tournament for some time [that is looking at teams from top to bottom] and that is very, very exciting.
We could get to see some new kids on the block
Slovenia are on the verge of booking their first-ever trip to Final Round and that could be a big thrill and story. Not only because of the opportunity for us all to see a new nation, but because they have some fine players such as Nika Baric of UMMC Ekaterinburg and Teja Oblak of Good Angels Kosice - a great backcourt - and with veteran Maja Erkic also around with other rising stars like Eva Lisec, it could be super for the neutrals if they complete their mission.
I am also thrilled they have a chance to make it, because recent campaigns were blighted by poor fortune via serious injuries. They also have some great young players coming through, who need this kind of possible breakthrough achievement to aspire to.
Another nation still in the hunt for a maiden spot are Netherlands and that would certainly be huge for them too. Also looking across the board players-wise, we have never seen the likes of Marine Johannes at Final Round and I think it is exciting to start thinking about which young talents might debut at the event.
Some big-hitters are going to miss out
The reduction to 16 teams means that limited space will result in casualties who will miss their usual spot at the top table. Lithuania are a prime example of this and it is going to be a painful last window for other countries who expect to progress as usual. Italy, Montenegro or Great Britain will miss out in one of the groups - as will Poland, Belarus or Belgium for example in another. If not enjoyable to see players distraught and disappointed, it does crank up the tension and makes the games mean even more. Dare I say much more than the men's qualifiers, where unless you were truly rotten, you were basically still advancing?
There's potential for the best media coverage yet
Due to FIBA's continual investment in its social media channels and digital collaborations with national federations and broadcasters, these qualifiers could possibly give the women's game one of its most extensive reaches outside of a major tournament. Many of you will have watched or read about the project which was initiated for the recent men's qualifiers. It provided streams of multiple games and it proved hugely popular. It extended the reach of the competition and gave an enhanced window for those taking part to showcase their skills and for the national federations to satisfy existing commercial partners or attract new ones. That's something the women's game needs even more.
Federations, Broadcasters and @FIBA partner to extend reach of FIBA #EuroBasket2017 Qualifiers: https://t.co/VCQvY3Dv13 pic.twitter.com/qWMXuAlQqu
— FIBA media (@FIBA_media) September 21, 2016
Hopefully the recently introduced 'FIBA Live Feed' can be utilised for this last window too - it's something which pulls together scores, social media posts and comments so you can keep track on how things are brewing right throughout each game day. It was a joy to do them for three youth events during the European summer and it would be great to help raise the profile further by turning them to the senior level in Europe.
Best of all though, as soon as these qualifiers are done, it's all eyes to the draw and then the Czech Republic for Final Round - or is it now Czechia 2017?
Paul Nilsen
FIBA
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