Cats voted second best Belgian sports team of the 21st century | FIBA Basketball

BRUSSELS (Belgium) – The ranges of love and appreciation for the acheivements of the history-making Cats continues to soar after they have been voted as the second best Belgian sports team of the final 25 years.

In a big ballot working throughout the web sites of numerous IPM group media retailers (DH-Les Sports +, L’Avenir, La Libre, Moustique, Paris Match, LN24) sports followers had to decide on their high three groups of the 21st century to this point.

And, the Belgian Cats have been solely simply squeezed out by just a few votes by the Red Lions – the males’s nationwide area hockey team who have been topped World Champions in 2018, European Champions in 2019 and Olympic champions in 2021.

Capturing the hearts of the nation, the Belgian Cats have constructed up an enormous following of their homeland throughout the final decade or so. Their meteoric rise to prominence has been marked by an unimaginable fusion of historic success on the court docket and a dynamic and entertaining model of basketball.

The team has needed to deal with a number of head coach modifications throughout their interval of unprecedented success, but has barely missed a beat on what has confirmed a very outstanding journey.

The nation has additionally found an iconic athlete in the form of marquee baller Emma Meesseman. Someone who’s inspirational management and majestic performances have been a tour de drive for the Cats.

Making historical past with a first FIBA Women’s EuroBasket medal once they took Third Place in 2017, Belgium booked a primary ever journey to the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup a yr later once they made the Semi-Finals on debut.

Repeating their bronze medal success at FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2021, in addition they famously made an Olympic debut in Tokyo – bowing out with a heartbreaking defeat in the Quarter-Finals.

But it was not lengthy earlier than they might put themselves on the map like by no means earlier than once they have been topped FIBA Women’s EuroBasket champions for the first time throughout 2023 on a memorable night time in Ljubljana.

Belgium then one way or the other retained their cherished silverware two years later in Piraeus at FIBA Women’s Eurobasket 2025.

They got here again from the lifeless towards Spain in a dramatic and nerve-shredding Final for the ages that can be talked about for years to come back.

With journeys to the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022 in Sydney and Paris 2024 Olympics additionally on their resume, it has been a wide ranging trip.

They now have the activity of presumably making their nation much more proud and intensifying their recognition by doubtlessly taking a maiden podium end at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.

Having already booked a direct ticket to the huge present in Berlin later this yr, if all goes to plan they may enter the well-known competitors as one of the groups to push reigning champions and red-hot favorites USA for the prestigious trophy.

But first, Belgium will make the most of competing in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 Qualifying Tournaments in March. They will step out in Wuhan towards host nation China, together with Brazil, Czechia, Mali and South Sudan.

FIBA