'Massive opportunity' for Ireland to make history against Latvia 

Ireland play France and Latvia in their final EuroBasket 2025 qualifiers this week. Sunday’s game against Latvia is a chance for Edel Thornton and the current generation of Irish players to make history in front of a full house at the National Basketball Arena.

Since stepping up from Small Countries level in 2023, Ireland are still seeking their first win in the EuroBasket qualifiers. Pic: Harry Murphy, Sportsfile

Winning just once would be enough for Edel Thornton. The Ireland captain leads her nation’s women’s basketball side into their final pair of EuroBasket 2025 qualifiers this week seeking a first ever victory at this level since the national teams were reinstated.

Ireland will face Olympic silver medalists France on Thursday in Chalon-sur-Saône before hosting Latvia in a sold-out National Basketball Arena in Dublin on Sunday. There’ll be a familiar face squaring off with Thornton as Latvia’s Paula Strautmane was her teammate in college at Quinnipiac.