GB Senior Women’s squad includes two debutantes for Istanbul ‘bubble’

Image credit: Mansoor Ahmed / ahmedphotos

Great Britain have announced a squad of 13 for the Senior Women’s trip to Istanbul for the upcoming Women’s EuroBasket Qualifier.

Rachael Vanderwal misses out through injury, while star forward Jo Leedham-Warner has announced she is expecting a baby in 2021 and Karlie Samuelson is also unavailable.

Sammy Roscoe earns a re-call to the squad and is one of two potential Senior debutantes alongside Evelyn Adebayo – playing pro in Spain – while Sevenoaks Suns’ Renee Busch returns to the squad having last played in 2013. [UPDATED from original post]

However, there is no place for Holly Winterburn, who is back playing in the WBBL this season after signing a three-year deal with Leicester Riders.

“It is a big challenge for the GB team to come back under the current circumstances created by COVID, but I am sure that our players, as always, will do their best to overcome all difficulties,” said head coach Chema Buceta.

“We will miss players who have provided a significant contribution to the success of the team in the recent past, but we are happy to welcome new people and rely on the talent, great attitude and lack of selfishness of all players invited.

“Team mentality, positive atmosphere and individual acceptance and responsibility of the role assigned will be again our main weapons. Last year we won our game against Poland, but that came after working hard on the court.

“We should not forget that Poland is a country with a strong basketball tradition, one team in EuroLeague, some in EuroCup, a domestic league already running for a few weeks and good players.

“So now, one year later, we have to respect Poland and prepare well the game to be able to win.”

GB also confirmed that Stef Collins would be part of the squad as an assistant coach.

GB Senior Women’s Squad

Evelyn Adebayo, Alcobendas (Spain)
Kristine Anigwe, Mersin (Turkey)
Renee Busch, Sevenoaks Suns
Chantel Charles, BA London Lions
Temi Fagbenle, Reyer Venezia (Italy)
Nicolette Fong Lyew Quee, Manchester Mystics
Cheridene Green, Gorzow (Poland)
Chantelle Handy, Zaragoza (Spain)
Georgia Jones, Manchester Mystics
Janice Monakana, Sevenoaks Suns
Samantha Roscoe, Goettingen (Germany)
Hannah Shaw, Manchester Mystics
Eilidh Simpson, Halle (Germany)

Do you like our work?

We have a tiny favour to ask. In 2018 we set out to make Hoopsfix sustainable by building our relationship directly with our readers. Up until now, Hoopsfix has been creating editorials, videos and podcasts to provide sorely missing coverage of the British game and its distinct culture and community.

We have funded Hoopsfix with our freelance work creating basketball media, but sadly that means not only does it fall behind our client’s priorities, but some of those clients are the same organisations we need to report objectively on putting us in a conflicted position.

We want to devote more time to our mission of helping British basketball reach its potential, and produce even more content for the basketball community by making Hoopsfix a sustainable 100% independent business funded directly by our readers through Patreon.

If everyone who enjoys our content chose to support us, our future would be much more secure. For as little as $3 per month, you can support Hoopsfix – and it only takes a minute.

We are tremendously honoured and humbled to have a community of people who value what we do, and we look forward to being at the forefront of the British game as it continues to evolve.

Support Hoopsfix