'Massive opportunity' for Ireland to make history against Latvia
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.
“We’re both ecstatic about it. We spoke about the idea of playing against each other with our national teams when we were in college. Now it’s here. I’m excited to see her. We were quite competitive when we were on the same team so I’m looking forward to seeing what happens on Sunday,” Thornton told the
Thornton and Strautmane guided Quinnipiac to three appearances in the NCAA Tournament while in college, but getting a win this weekend would mean a lot to the Ireland captain.
“We’ve got so much talent coming through. We want people to enjoy watching us play. Winning gets more kids in the door watching us play at the highest level, that will develop more talent as well,” she said.
Ireland only made the step up from the Small Countries level of play in the 2023 qualifying campaign. A winless run there, including a heartbreaking loss to the Netherlands in the final game of that campaign, followed by going winless so far in this campaign means Thornton and her teammates are seeking a maiden win at this level.
“Even with the Netherlands, we were just right there. If we can get that first win under our belt, the sky's the limit. Sunday is a realistic opportunity for us to do that and for the country to see the standard that we’re playing at,” said Thornton.
The Brunell star missed both the last qualifying window and the summer internationals through injury but is eager to get back in action in the Ireland jersey this week.
“The whole way through my rehab, getting back to the national team was my end goal. I’m still only 10 months post-op so it’s a challenge but I feel great. I’ve played four club games since coming back,” said Thornton.
“It’s a confidence thing as well. I’m probably about 80 to 90% there although there are plays where I feel 100 per cent. Managing my energy levels on the court is the hardest thing but I’ll really be tested on Thursday.”
Her first game back for Ireland could hardly come against a tougher opponent. France are ranked third in the world, with medals at each of the last eight editions of EuroBasket in addition to the Olympic silver they won in Paris.
France comfortably won the return fixture in Dublin in November of 2023 and will be overwhelming favourites on Thursday.
“Preparing for a team like that, we really have to focus. We’ve nothing to lose so we’re going out to disrupt them as much as we can. Thursday’s game is exciting but we’re not there to get a pat on the back,” said Thornton.
“We’re not naive in terms of realising their depth and talent but we also recognise ourselves and what we can do.”
Thornton and her teammates are keen to use the France game as preparation for the big task at hand on Sunday in Dublin. Latvia beat an understrength Irish team in Riga last year. Sunday’s return game in Dublin is a chance for Thornton and the current generation of Irish players to make history in front of a full house.
“There’s a massive opportunity for us there on Sunday. It’s so lovely to play in an arena that’s full. I was there for when the men’s team had that recently. The Irish fans are amazing when they’re all together in one place, I’m looking forward to experiencing what that’s like.”
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