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Things to know about EuroBasket, Part 3: Tournament results and the biggest challenges of changing teams mid-season

By Jenn Hatfield

Spain's forward Astou Ndour (L) vies Belgium's center Emma Meesseman during the FIBA 2018 Women's Basketball World Cup third place final match between Spain and Belgium at the Santiago Martin arena in San Cristobal de la Laguna on the Canary island of Tenerife on September 30, 2018. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP) (Photo credit should read JAVIER SORIANO/AFP/Getty Images)
Spain's forward Astou Ndour (L) vies Belgium's center Emma Meesseman during the FIBA 2018 Women's Basketball World Cup third place final match between Spain and Belgium at the Santiago Martin arena in San Cristobal de la Laguna on the Canary island of Tenerife on September 30, 2018. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP) (Photo credit should read JAVIER SORIANO/AFP/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 27: Referee Tiffany Bird #25 makes a call during the game between the New York Liberty and the Phoenix Mercury on August 27, 2019 at the Westchester County Center in White Plains, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Catalina Fragoso/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 27: Referee Tiffany Bird #25 makes a call during the game between the New York Liberty and the Phoenix Mercury on August 27, 2019 at the Westchester County Center in White Plains, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Catalina Fragoso/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Challenge #2: Different styles of play and officiating

Beyond playing with different teams in the WNBA and in EuroBasket, the styles of play differ in the United States and Europe. Amanda Zahui B. (Sweden/New York) and Fagbenle, both post players, highlighted the greater physicality in the WNBA. “They’re just bigger girls over here in the WNBA,” Fagbenle said. “They’re quicker in Europe … but I think the level of it [is] getting fairly similar as Euro basketball increases.” Zahui B. added that the pace is faster in the WNBA, but her game is “a mix of both [styles of play]. … I try to put it together and things work out.”

Most players were reluctant to comment on the officiating, but there was a general sense that the game is called differently across continents. “It’s a lot different,” Turner said, “… [but] you’re gonna have some good refs, some bad refs everywhere you go.” Meesseman added, “They’re doing their job on every continent. That’s all I can say about that. Sometimes we agree, sometimes we don’t, but I’m sure they’re doing the best they can.” However, Mestdagh was willing to say more on the officiating. In late July, she told High Post Hoops, “I have to say, this European basketball tournament, they really let us play physical, on the borderline of dirty and I haven’t felt [that] this year [in the WNBA]. It’s for sure physical, but it hasn’t been as dirty as I saw in the European [tournament].” Although dissatisfaction with WNBA officiating—specifically, with the lack of fouls called—seems to have peaked in August, it has been a topic of conversation throughout the season, so it’s notable that Mestdagh considered the EuroBasket officials even less likely to blow their whistles.

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