Paris 2024 women's basketball team preview: Germany

Basketball history will be made this summer when Germany's women's team make their Olympic debut at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

After decades of failing to qualify for any major international tournament, Germany have undergone a transformation in recent years, finishing 6th at EuroBasket 2023 (their best finish since 1997 when they won bronze) before sealing their qualification to the Games in February.

Can Germany now continue their recent good run of form in Paris this summer, or will they be brought down to earth by the world's elite teams?

• Women's Olympic basketball tournament draw

Germany's key numbers

World Ranking: 19th

Olympic Games

• Appearances: 0
• Medals: None

FIBA World Cup

• Appearances: 1
• Medals: None

EuroBasket

• Appearances: 16
• Medals: Bronze (1997)

Satou Sabally key to Germany's hopes at Paris 2024

Germany have risen six spots in the FIBA women's world rankings in just under a year—the joint second-highest jump among all teams in the rankings.

One of the main reasons for Germany's surge has been the play of Satou Sabally. After guiding Fenerbahçe to a third successive Turkish Super League championship and the EuroLeague title in 2023, the 26-year-old rejoined her WNBA team (the Dallas Wings) and went on a tear, posting career highs in points (18.6), rebounds (5.8), assists (4.4) and steals (1.8) per game. For her efforts, the 6-foot-4 (1.93m) forward was named to her second All-Star team and first All-WNBA First Team, and also received the Most Improved Player award.

But Sabally wasn't done, as she set her sights on competing for Germany at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Belém, Brazil.

The OQT was one of four contested by 16 national teams all over the world, with the top teams earning a place at Paris 2024. Germany's passage to the Games was by no means guaranteed, as they faced two-time EuroBasket champions and Rio 2016 bronze medallists Serbia, three-time Olympic silver medallists Australia and 2023 FIBA AmeriCup champions Brazil in a brutal group.

But a stunning opening 73-66 win over Serbia (a game in which Sabally posted 18 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals) meant Germany only needed to win one of their remaining two games to earn their first-ever Olympic berth. Coach Lisa Thomaidis rested Sabally for the next game against Australia (a convincing 85-52 win for the Opals), knowing her team stood a better chance against Brazil with her best players well-rested for the encounter. It was a risky strategy, but one that paid off as Sabally returned with a monster line of 20 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals to guide Germany to a 73-71 win and a spot at the women's basketball tournament in Paris.

Sabally may be the engine that drives this Germany team, but she is not without help.

Leonie Fiebich is a sharp-shooting guard who can score in a hurry (Fiebich averaged 18 points and 7.3 rebounds per game at the OQT), while Sabally's sister Nyara is a monster on the glass (17 rebounds against Serbia). The pair were also a part of the German U-18 team that won gold at the European Championship in 2018.

However, any chance Germany has of escaping their group at the Games in Paris (Germany face the USA, Japan and Belgium in Group C) rests squarely with Satou Sabally. It's a lot of pressure to put on the shoulders of one player, but such is the responsibility that comes with being the best female player to don the German national jersey in decades.

Considering the difficulty of the group, Germany may possibly lack the depth and firepower to compete with their more experienced opponents, but it will nonetheless be a joy to watch Sabally display her skills on the Olympic stage.

• Germany's Satou Sabally on course for Paris 2024 return

Germany's group at Paris 2024

Germany have been drawn into Group C along with Tokyo 2020 silver medallists Japan, EuroBasket 2023 champions Belgium, and nine-time Olympic champions USA.

Germany Group Phase Games

vs Belgium (29 July)
vs Japan (1 August)
vs USA (4 August)