Only two sides have never been relegated from Ireland’s top flight. On Saturday night, they faced off in the Domino’s Super League yet, as Emmet Ryan writes, the fates of St Vincent’s and Killester look rather different this season.

Considering Ireland’s had a national league for well over 50 years, it’s no small thing that only two sides have never been relegated from its top flight. Yet that’s the status Killester and St Vincent’s hold.

Indeed, only one other side can claim to have even played every season in the national league system. That being UCD Marian. Yet Saturday night in St Vincent’s showed just why one of the two never-relegated teams is staring at making the wrong kind of history this season. It also showed why they might avoid it.

Flirting with disaster

Killester entered this season of the Domino’s Super League having been to the championship game in each of the prior three seasons. They lost on each occasion but their consistency in the post-Covid era has been impressive.

St Vincent’s tell a different story. The three time champions had a 10-12 record last season, making the playoffs for the first time since the league switched to a playoff format. Yet the other seasons post-Covid tell a different story.

In the 2021-22 season they had an abysmal 1-13 record but there was no relegation that season. They managed to avoid the relegation playoff with room to spare the following season before narrow escapes in the subsequent two. Last season was meant to be a correction.

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About that

St Vincent’s entered Saturday night with heavy defeats in both of their opening games and huge concerns around their D. Killester were able to exploit the issues with that in large part throughout the first half. There was simply no cohesion and it was clear that the roster still hadn’t clicked at all.

There were obvious positives. The most notable being Scottie Stone’s scoring. Stone had 39 points, shooting 43/71/92 in a game leading display. He also had 8 rebounds while three other players scored in double digits.

Yet they were outrebound 43-34 and, crucially, gave up 17 offensive rebounds compared to just 7 by Killester. The turnover battle was tight enough (18 for Vincent’s compared to 16 for Killester) but those extra opportunities proved telling as Killester had 63 FGAs to just 59 for the hosts.

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There’s fight in them

Cockroaches, tardigrades, the Pen Place in Dun Laoghaire Shopping Centre, and St Vincent’s in the Domino’s Super League. These are all things expected to survive a global apocalypse. Even this season, which has started 0-3 and the numbers going against them, is a long way from changing that.

The positive for Vincent’s who lost 91-89 as Killester moved to 3-0, was that this was the first game of the campaign where they had the requisite fight to potentially win. If they could stop getting in their own way, they might actually do that.

Down four with 20 seconds on the clock, the maths were against them but not catastrophically. Wasting 18 of those seconds without putting up a shot did. Eventually they got an inbounds call to fall their way but Stone’s baseline jumper just made the final margin closer. To survive, those moments need to be managed better.

As for the visitors

In a shock to nobody that actually watches the Domino’s Super League, Killester look like they’ll be in the playoffs again this season and prove a tough out to anyone once they get there. Josh Wilson managed to deliver in spite of having trouble finding his rhythm. Stefan Desnica is an excellent signing who delivered what was needed on the night.

Killester won ugly but will surely be irritated that they failed to put the game away early. The visitors looked set to kill it off quickly when they built up a 15 point lead in the second quarter. While St Vincent’s fought gamely, there was a loss of focus that will surely irk Mike Olsson. When you’ve got your foot on your opponent’s neck, you look straight down and stomp.

Still a win is a win and winning ugly can build character. They moved to 3-0 in the standings heading into the double-round week. They travel to Tralee (1-2) before hosting Ballincollig (1-2) in a rematch of last season’s decider.

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European basketball stars are increasingly central to the NBA championship conversation. Nikola Jokić, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Dončić, and Victor Wembanyama have established themselves as among the league’s most influential players, while Lauri Markkanen and Franz Wagner continue to demonstrate versatility.

Their situations differ considerably. Some lead established contenders, others face uncertain futures, and several depend on roster improvements to strengthen their championship prospects. As the 2026–27 season develops, these six players could significantly influence how the race for the Larry O’Brien Trophy unfolds across both conferences.

1. Jokić Anchors Denver’s Championship Ambitions

Nikola Jokić remains one of basketball’s most influential offensive players. Three MVP awards, a championship, and a Finals MVP underline his exceptional standing. Yet Denver enters the season facing questions about whether its supporting cast can sustain another championship challenge.

Those concerns are reflected in NBA Finals odds, where Denver’s championship prospects depend on more than Jokić’s individual brilliance. His remarkable consistency provides the foundation, but postseason success requires contributions throughout the rotation.

Jokić controls games through precise passing, intelligent positioning, and efficient scoring. His ability to draw defensive attention creates opportunities for perimeter shooters, while his decision-making makes Denver particularly difficult to contain in half-court.

Jamal Murray’s availability remains especially important. Denver also needs dependable contributions from its supporting players against increasingly competitive Western Conference opponents.
Jokić can influence virtually every possession, but sustained championship contention requires collective execution. Denver’s reliance on its supporting cast highlights a challenge facing another European superstar as he begins a new chapter in Miami.

2. Giannis Brings Championship Experience to Miami

Giannis Antetokounmpo enters the 2026–27 campaign with a new challenge following his blockbuster summer trade from Milwaukee to Miami. The two-time MVP and former NBA champion brings exceptional scoring ability, defensive versatility and championship experience to a Heat team hoping to challenge the Eastern Conference’s strongest contenders.

His partnership with Bam Adebayo could become one of Miami’s greatest strengths. Both players can protect the paint, disrupt opposing offenses and create problems around the basket. Antetokounmpo’s ability to drive through defenses adds another dimension to the Heat’s attack, although the team will need effective perimeter shooting to give him enough room to operate.

For Antetokounmpo, the challenge is adapting his game to a new supporting cast after spending 13 seasons in Milwaukee. Developing an understanding with Adebayo and Miami’s other players will be important, particularly when opponents try to limit his opportunities near the basket.

His arrival has strengthened Miami’s championship ambitions, but individual brilliance won’t be enough to secure another title. Much will depend on how effectively the Heat combine their defensive strengths with a balanced offense.

That challenge mirrors the expectations surrounding another European superstar in Los Angeles.

3. Dončić Chases a Title as Scoring King

Luka Dončić enters his latest Lakers campaign following another remarkable individual season. His 33.5-point average in 2025–26 showed his offensive dominance, while a sixth All-NBA First Team selection reinforced his status among basketball’s elite.

The Slovenian guard combines exceptional court awareness with an extensive scoring repertoire. His ability to manipulate defenders through pick-and-roll situations creates opportunities for both himself and his teammates.

Dončić also excels at controlling tempo. Step-back three-pointers, accurate passing, and calculated changes of pace make him difficult to defend. His playoff experience adds another dimension as Los Angeles works to strengthen its championship credentials.

Beyond the individual performances covered in NBA team analysis, the Lakers’ championship ambitions depend on defensive consistency, interior protection and dependable contributions from supporting players. Improvements in those areas could make Los Angeles more competitive against the Western Conference’s leading teams.

One particularly demanding obstacle comes from San Antonio, where another European talent has already established himself as a championship contender.

4. Wembanyama Has Arrived Among the Elite

Victor Wembanyama enters the 2026–27 season with expectations transformed by San Antonio’s remarkable progress. The French center helped guide the Spurs to the NBA Finals while establishing himself among basketball’s most influential two-way players.

His unanimous Defensive Player of the Year recognition highlighted an extraordinary defensive campaign. Wembanyama’s shot-blocking, mobility, and defensive awareness let San Antonio challenge opponents across the court.

His offensive development has been equally significant. During the Finals, Wembanyama showed greater willingness to attack inside, pairing his perimeter shooting with efficient scoring near the basket. That versatility makes conventional defensive assignments increasingly difficult.

As a result, San Antonio enters the championship discussion with considerable momentum. Wembanyama could also challenge for MVP honors, putting him in rare company among players who have won both MVP and Defensive Player of the Year.

While his development strengthens an established contender, another European forward illustrates how elite individual production can emerge outside the championship picture.

5. Markkanen Embodies a Different European Path

Lauri Markkanen’s situation in Utah is quite different from Wembanyama’s in San Antonio. While the Spurs are challenging for a championship, the Finnish forward has established himself as Utah’s leading offensive contributor, averaging 26.7 points and 6.9 rebounds during the 2025–26 season.
His shooting efficiency remains a defining strength. Markkanen shot 47.7% from the field, 35.5% from three, and 89.6% at the line, showing versatility in different scoring situations.

Unlike players who dominate possession, Markkanen frequently creates opportunities through movement and positioning. His height allows him to shoot over smaller defenders, while his perimeter accuracy stretches opposing defenses and creates additional space for teammates.

Utah’s broader competitive position currently limits his championship prospects. Nevertheless, Markkanen’s size, shooting, and offensive adaptability continue to attract attention. Any future roster changes involving the Finnish international could affect another team’s championship ambitions, showing how European talent shapes the league beyond its established contenders.

6. Wagner Could Elevate Orlando’s Championship Prospects

Franz Wagner represents another important European presence in the Eastern Conference. The German forward combines versatile scoring, intelligent movement, and playmaking ability, making him central to Orlando’s ambitions.

Injuries restricted Wagner to 34 appearances last season, disrupting his partnership with Paolo Banchero. His availability will therefore be critical as the Magic pursue a deeper playoff run.
Under new coach Sean Sweeney, Wagner’s ability to create scoring opportunities alongside Banchero and Desmond Bane could help Orlando challenge established contenders more consistently throughout the season.

Europe’s Influence Extends Across the Championship Race

European stars will have a significant role to play in the 2027 NBA championship race. Jokić and Dončić remain central to Denver’s and Los Angeles’ ambitions, while Wembanyama has helped establish San Antonio as a serious contender in the Western Conference.

Antetokounmpo’s move to Miami has strengthened the Heat’s championship prospects and added another dimension to the Eastern Conference race. Meanwhile, Markkanen remains an important player for Utah despite the team’s struggles, and Wagner’s return to fitness could help Orlando make further progress.

All six players bring different strengths to their respective teams, but individual talent alone won’t determine the eventual champion. The quality of their supporting casts, defensive performances and ability to deliver consistently in the playoffs will be just as important when the championship is decided.

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The Dario Party has arrived at BallinEurope. With Dario Šarić returning to Euroleague, back with Anadolu Efes, it’s our great pleasure to get the unique insights of Leviya Francesca. Welcome to DarioWatch.

Hi, I’m Lev. You may know me better as Lisco_2000 or the Dario Šarić girl. Three years ago, I started a column for Golden State of Mind titled DarioWatch. I wrote about a dozen articles chronicling Dario’s season with the Golden State Warriors before they unceremoniously burned out in the NBA play-in.

In the two and a half years since my last DarioWatch article, Dario had an unsuccessful season with the Denver Nuggets and a miserable stint with the Sacramento Kings before getting cut from the NBA altogether in February of 2026.

Since then, he’s found his way back to the Euroleague with Anadolu Efes, the team he played for between 2014 and 2016 when Sixers fans were waiting for him to come over, and luckily, the kind folks at Ball In Europe have given DarioWatch a new home.

In that same stretch of time since my final original DarioWatch column to today, to put it in perspective, I started grad school and finished grad school. I moved to New York City and moved out of New York City. I’ve lived a thousand lives. It’s been a long time.

What you need to know

Admittedly, I am an NBA-head. This is my first foray into the Euroleague. Here’s what I’ve learned about Efes so far:

MASCOT: Çaylak, a blue “tiger” with eerily human features.

TEAM NAME: Roughly translates to Turkish Beverages.

NBA EQUIVALENT: Maybe last year’s Tatum-less Celtics?

DARIO’S TEAMMATES: Mike James (RIP), Cam Payne, Kai Jones, Bruno Fernando, Eran Osmani, Jordan Loyd, and PJ Dozier, among others.

I’m learning. You’re learning, especially if you’re a Liscohead who’s following me and DarioWatch on this new journey. Dario himself is admittedly still learning, too:

“I definitely need some time to get used to it,” Dario told Meridian Sports in an interview earlier this month. “European basketball has changed a lot compared to my time. Back then, it was more about set plays and half-court basketball. Now the game is much faster, almost like the NBA. The point guards and shooting guards have more initiative in a way. I was expecting a slightly different game, but that’s no problem. I need to adapt as quickly as possible to be able to help the team.”

Has home changed?

Maybe the game is faster now. Maybe Dario is slower post-ACL tear and almost two decades into his professional career. Maybe he’s not that 22-year-old wunderkind with the world in his hands anymore (not even if we blink once, blink twice). Regardless, he’s averaging upwards of 25 minutes per game with Efes, and he seems to be handling his role well. 

There’s been a lot of pressure on Dario since Mike James’ injury. James tore his Achilles towards the end of the game vs KK Crvena Zvezda earlier this month, making Dario the default first option. This is both great and terrifying for me, the Dario Šarić girl, who routinely analyzes how he’s walking in social media clips and goes oh god his knees are about to give out KILL ME NOW. 

The game after James’ injury, versus Olympiacos, Dario put up just one point – a made free throw. He played only 18 minutes that night (Liscoheads, can you believe I’m saying ONLY?!?!?!). Maybe Efes head coach Pablo Laso saw he wasn’t playing well, or maybe he just really needed some rest. We know Dario gets in his head when his two-man partner gets hurt. We’ve seen it over and over again, as I wrote for Golden State of Mind when Chris Paul broke his hand early in 2024. Luckily, this time, it doesn’t seem to be affecting him too badly. He’ll always be streaky, but hopefully that was just a one-time thing where he went emo because his friend got hurt.

A dash of familiarity

The silver lining to James’ injury is that Efes brought in Dario’s longtime teammate and fellow ‘21 Sun Cam Payne, which just might have been the thing to get him back on track. Dario plays best when he knows he can trust his point guard, and who better to have by his side than the guy he has an adorable pregame handshake with? Either the Efes front office knows their Dario lore  or they’ve been following Lisco_2000 and looked to my Dario teammate matrix for inspiration. Either way, this pickup was an incredible decision, and I’m excited to see this duo shine (and I’m excited to see their cute little handshake again).

OH MY GOD FRIENDSHIP WAS SEEN https://t.co/1qT4sXN43i

— lev (@lisco_2000) October 3, 2026

In Dario’s most recent bout, a loss versus Bayern Munich, he put up 21 points in 32 minutes, which is just about as efficient as it gets if your name isn’t Mike James. He played so much that Efes fans across the internet (who I immediately befriended when Dario signed back in June, by the way) were tweeting things that roughly translated to “I think he’s going to die out there” and portraying him as a “tired and weary kebab shop owner.”

dario saric https://t.co/AGISNxmq14

— Potanın Kedisi (@potaninkedisi) October 14, 2026

My own tweet, comparing Dario to Peg, the 30-year Walmart employee who can barely smile, was a smash hit.

dario https://t.co/k9xJSv8i8w

— lev (@lisco_2000) October 14, 2026

“I just know he stormed back to the locker room, threw up, and is now on the team bus mad as hell,” I added after the game.

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A long road

We all know this isn’t sustainable, especially if it only leads to losses. I’ve reassured my newfound friends in the Efes fandom that Dario is actually quite durable and hasn’t run into much injury trouble since his ACL tear in 2021, but they still seem worried, and maybe it’s all just wishful thinking from me.

I still have a lot to learn about the Euroleague. I still don’t understand why Efes plays in two different leagues. I feel like there are so many games but also no games. The Efes mascot kind of freaks me out. I don’t understand how Matthew Strazel plays with that massive unsecured messy bun without getting overstimulated. I have no idea what is going on.

As I did in the NBA almost a decade ago, I guess I’ll learn the ropes with Dario as my guiding star.

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Euroleague’s own fantasy game is long established, the Basketball Champions League has its own, and the NBA has no shortage of options. Yet one independent operator has entered the fray with an interesting offering. Emmet Ryan caught up with Figurei8ht to learn about their new Euroleague fantasy game.

It’s been in operation since before the season started and has already proven quite popular. Yet why exactly did Figurei8ght go from being merely a beloved sharer of analytics to creating their very own fantasy game for Euroleague?

Well, that’s something I wanted to find out so I went straight to the source to find out. Here’s my Q&A with the brain behind the game. Oh and, of course, here’s the link where you can play.

The Why

BiE: Why did you want to start a Euroleague fantasy game?
Figurei8ht: The honest answer is frustration. The existing EuroLeague fantasy uses PIR as its only metric, a tool designed for coaches, not fantasy managers. When one number decides everything, every team ends up looking the same, and if you start slowly the season is effectively over by Round 10.

I follow EuroLeague closely and I felt the format was letting the fans down. European basketball has some of the most tactically sophisticated fans in the world. They deserved something that matched that intelligence. So I decided to build it myself.

The origin story

BiE: Where did your interest in stats and data come from? Is it something you do in your day job or in college?
Figurei8ht: My professional background is in finance, I’m a CFO in a big multinational company, so working with numbers, models, and structured systems is something I do every day.

At some point that analytical instinct crossed over into basketball. I started breaking down EuroLeague stats beyond the box score, looking at efficiency categories, usage patterns, how different player types complement each other.

The @Figurei8ht account on X started as a way to share that analysis. The fantasy game grew naturally from the same thinking, how do you build a system that rewards genuine basketball intelligence rather than just picking the most famous names?

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A unique approach

BiE: The Rotational format — that is fascinating. What was the thinking behind that idea?
Figurei8ht: The core idea came from a question: what if roster construction was a season-long strategic puzzle rather than a one-time draft decision? In Rotational mode you can pick any player every Round [providing] total flexibility. But each player has a 20-use cap across 38 Rounds. That single constraint changes everything. Do you use your best player now when you need points, or save him for a harder Round later?

Rotational mode tends to attract managers who want maximum control every week and enjoy making active decisions each Round. Draft mode appeals to those who love the ritual of building a roster from scratch and then managing it through trades and the waiver wire. Two very different personalities, two very different games, both running on the same platform and the same 8-category scoring system.

About the draft version

BiE: My favourite type of fantasy is the NFL — a draft and head-to-head matchups every week. Was this the type of experience you wanted to bring to EuroLeague?
Figurei8ht: Partly, yes. The NFL experience you’re describing, the draft anticipation, the weekly stakes, the feeling that every decision matters, that’s exactly what was missing from European basketball fantasy. Draft Mode in Figurei8ht gives you that: a real automated two-phase draft, waiver wire management, trades, and season-long roster ownership.

For EuroLeague specifically, the draft adds a layer of identity to your team that didn’t exist before your roster reflects your strategic priorities from day one.

The 8-category Roto scoring system is what gives both modes their depth. Rather than one aggregated number deciding everything, eight categories: points, assists, rebounds, steals, blocks, field goal percentage, turnovers, and free throw percentage. [These] are ranked and scored independently every Round.

A well-balanced roster can beat a star-heavy one. A team that dominates defensive stats competes equally against a team built on scoring. It rewards genuine basketball intelligence, not just picking the most recognisable names.

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The audience

BiE: Who do you think will want to play?
Figurei8ht: There are two clear audiences. The first is the engaged EuroLeague fan who already follows the stats closely, the person who knows that a player’s FG% matters as much as their points total, who tracks minutes and role changes across the season. The 8-category Roto system was built for them.
The second audience is the broader fantasy sports community, people who play fantasy in other sports and have been waiting for a format like this. The game is free to join, so the barrier to try it is zero.

But there is a third dimension that I think will resonate deeply with a certain type of manager, the competitive one who thinks beyond a single season. The best teams each season qualify for advanced leagues the following year, a champions and top league whole ecosystem.

That qualification system creates something rare in fantasy sports: continuity. Your decisions this season affect where you compete next season. Managers who embrace that will build something that feels like a dynasty, a team identity, a track record, a reputation within the community. That long-term commitment is something we deliberately built into the platform from the start.

Project goals

BiE: What would you consider a successful season for the fantasy game as a project?
Figurei8ht: Honestly, retention more than registration. I could chase signup numbers but what actually matters is whether the managers who join are still engaged in Round 25 the same way they were in Round 1.

If the Roto format is doing its job [by] keeping standings competitive, making every Round feel meaningful, [then] managers stay invested all season. Beyond that, I want to see genuine community form around it. Managers debating waiver wire picks, arguing about trade values, tracking the standings. If that happens organically by mid-season, that tells me the product works. Numbers come after that.

The post Interview: A fresh approach to fantasy with Figurei8ht appeared first on BallinEurope.

EuroLeague basketball has never really been a domestic product in the way most top-flight football leagues are. A single season routes through Madrid, Istanbul, Belgrade, Athens, and a dozen other cities, and that constant movement has quietly shaped a betting and casino culture around the competition that looks nothing like what surrounds a typical national league. It’s worth tracing exactly how that geography has fed into the way fans engage with odds, prop markets, and gaming more broadly around the sport.

A Continent-Hopping Competition Breeds a Continent-Hopping Betting Culture

Few competitions ask their most dedicated fans to travel quite as much as the EuroLeague does. A Real Madrid or Panathinaikos supporter following their side deep into a playoff run might find themselves in three or four different countries within a single month, each with its own betting regulations, its own dominant sportsbooks, and often its own casino culture sitting right alongside the arena district. Berlin’s Uber Arena, host of the 2024 Final Four, sits in a city with a mature, licensed casino scene that plenty of traveling fans wandered into the same weekend Panathinaikos lifted the trophy.

This isn’t incidental. Final Four host cities are chosen partly for their infrastructure and hospitality capacity, and that same infrastructure tends to include a serious nightlife and gaming scene that fans lean on to fill the hours between the semifinal and the final.

The Sport Has a Genuinely Long Betting History

BallinEurope’s own history with betting content goes back further than most readers probably realize. Sporting Bet sponsored this very site for years, and articles breaking down pointspreads and over/under lines on Euroleague matchups date back well over a decade, long before betting content became the industry-wide norm it is now for sports media generally. That history matters here: EuroLeague fans have never treated odds discussion as some new intrusion into the sport, since it’s been baked into the coverage almost since the competition’s modern format took shape.

That familiarity extends naturally to casino gaming for a meaningful chunk of the audience, particularly around Final Four weekends, when the same fans already comfortable checking outright winner odds or Final Four qualification prices are frequently in a city with a well-developed gaming scene and a free evening to fill before or after tip-off.

Prop Bets Have Followed the Sport’s Own Statistical Obsession

Basketball generates prop-bet markets more naturally than most sports, given how granular the sport’s own statistics culture already is. Points, rebounds, assists, three-pointers made, these are numbers EuroLeague fans already track obsessively for their own reasons, and betting markets have simply built structured wagers on top of stats the audience was already discussing. That overlap between a fan’s existing analytical habits and what a sportsbook actually offers is part of why prop markets around EuroLeague have grown as fast as they have.

Where the Line Between Fandom and Casino Tourism Blurs

For a section of the traveling fanbase, especially those making the trip to a Final Four in a city they wouldn’t otherwise visit, the weekend genuinely functions as a combined basketball and casino trip. Abu Dhabi’s 2025 Final Four, for instance, put fans in a destination built partly around hospitality and entertainment infrastructure well beyond the arena itself, and plenty of the crowd treated the weekend as exactly that kind of combined trip.

Readers curious what the broader European online casino landscape actually looks like beyond the physical destinations themselves can find that here, covering the licensed operators active across the EU rather than any single host city’s local scene specifically.

What This Means Heading Into Future Final Fours

Our own preview of Panathinaikos against Fenerbahce at the most recent Final Four touched on exactly the kind of odds-driven analysis that’s become second nature to EuroLeague coverage, treating sportsbook pricing as a legitimate lens for reading a matchup rather than something separate from the basketball conversation itself. That same instinct, reading a line the way you’d read a stat sheet, carries over naturally to how a portion of the traveling fanbase spends its downtime once the final buzzer sounds.

The Bigger Picture

None of this makes EuroLeague unique in having betting-adjacent culture around it, plenty of major competitions do. What is distinctive is how directly the competition’s own geography, a genuinely pan-European format moving through a rotating cast of host cities, has shaped a fan culture where checking odds, catching a match, and spending an evening at a casino in an unfamiliar city all sit comfortably within the same well-traveled weekend.

The post EuroLeague Nights: Betting and Casino Culture Around European Basketball appeared first on BallinEurope.

New Ireland women’s national team head coach Thomas Garlepp was cautious about his goals but open about his ambition in an extensive interview with Emmet Ryan

It’s Ireland week on BallinEurope and we’re off to a big start. Ireland will enter November’s EuroBasket Women 2029 pre-qualifiers with a new head coach at the helm. Thomas Garlepp, from Australia, has stepped in to replace James Weldon.

After Ireland recorded its first two ever wins in qualifying in the last campaign, with a pair of wins over Bosnia & Herzegovina, Garlepp has a big challenge ahead of him. The task is only made tougher by the fact that he will spend most of his time on the other side of the world in Sydney, Australia.

The distance issue

Sydney is on the far side of the world from Dublin and is either 7 or 9 hours ahead of the Irish capital depending on the time of year. Garlepp was up front about the extra layer this brings to the task ahead.

“It was an upfront conversation before the interview even happened. In terms of just the how from a volunteer capacity and taking care of those travel arrangements on my end, and really devoting myself and my family, having an understanding of what the commitment actually is, was the first part,” Garlepp told BallinEurope.

“I come from a family pretty entrenched in basketball. My wife’s the head coach of the Sydney Flames here in Sydney. I dropped her off at the airport just a couple of hours ago as she’s an assistant coach with the Opals, so she’ll be in Berlin.”

The interview took place before the Opals endured an injury-riddled FIBA Women’s World Cup, where they reached the quarter final.

“Knowing that I had the support of the most important people in my life, it prompted some further decision making and planning, and and just kind of wrapping my head around exactly the level of thorough planning that be required,”

“If I’m going to set some standards and meet the players where they’re at with respect to what they’d like to achieve and the standards they like to set, a lot of that is going to have to be remote.”

Garlepp intends to arrive in Ireland well ahead of international windows where possible but acknowledged that a lot of work would be required to make everything in between succeed.

“I will obviously be able to arrive ahead of time to some of these windows and put some processes in place, but the time spent here, particularly with respect to the time zones and the differences there, I am going to have to be really organised,” he said.

“I’ve been involved career-wise in terms of juggling multiple teams at once. Being in Australia and undergoing World Cup campaigns is always fraught with a lot of unexpected things, and you’ve got to be adaptable and organised,”

“I want to build something that I’m really proud of with these players. And you know, look, It’s going to be a challenge, just like anything worth doing is. But I’m confident that I’ve thought it through and that I’m ready to give it a crack.”

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The immediate task

Garlepp brings a strong resume with him to the role. He has substantial experience coaching in NBL 1, Australia’s second tier, while he guided the Australian U17 women to the bronze medal at this summer’s FIBA U17 World Cup. Save for an assistant role in high school, he’s set all of those aside to focus on November’s qualifiers.

“Most of my planning at the moment is going into [the] Iceland [game]. I’m aware of their better players, the way they like to play, and I’m fleshing out some ideas relative to what I’ve learnt there, to what we have, and the opportunities we have,” said Garlepp.

“I’ll probably go a little bit more in depth into Azerbaijan and Switzerland over the coming weeks, but for right now I’ve been just watching a lot of Iceland in particular.”

Ireland captain Edel Thornton was the only current squad member that he had reached out to prior to Friday as his announcement was under embargo.

“I just introduced myself and said I’d love to have the opportunity to chat, and she was nice enough to respond, and we’ll set up a time when it works for her. I’ll do the same with a lot of probably the senior players to start,” he said.

“I’d certainly be interested in having every, you know, beyond the 12 that were a part of those windows last year. I really want to make sure everyone feels heard and seen. There’s a bright future ahead for Irish basketball, but there’s also some fantastic players here now, they’ve all got to know that I’m keeping an eye on them, and I care about them.”

The retirement of Bridget Herlihy during the last qualification campaign has put the import slot somewhat in flux. So far, Garlepp hasn’t identified a player or position he wants to target for it.

“I think in time I will, and probably not in the too distant future at all. I think for the time being I am really familiarising myself with the locals and just making sure I extend those olive branches and give them a sense of who I am,”

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The coaching set-up

Garlepp plans for his coaching team to be based in Ireland, and he plans to set about identifying candidates to join his staff in short order.

“There are some names within Ireland that I’m familiar with and I certainly have a lot of respect for a number of Irish coaches. The one thing I do know is I’m looking local, and I think with respect to ensuring that we set good, positive functional standards for the players within Ireland is really important to me,” he said.

“I’ve got to learn more about the cohort who’s available. That’s a really immediate to-do for me. But with respect to building that staff, having them Irish based is really important.”

Vague on goals

The part that may disappoint most observers was Garlepp not committing to specific targets in terms of results, at least at this stage, in terms of goals for this upcoming campaign or the subsequent one should he be retained.

“I certainly plan on being here for multiple campaigns, and that’s my intention. With respect to goals and expectations, I’ll be honest with you, my expectation is that we just go for it and really enjoy it,” he said.

“Whatever happens on the other side of that, we’ll set standards together. We will play every game to try and win, as anyone would. But you know, putting a number on it for me…my goals would probably be a little bit more specific. You know, are we really enjoying it? Are we sharing the ball? What’s the level of fight and defence we’re playing? Like those are more the things that I’ll be really looking at.”

I pressed him for more specifics but Garlepp said that he didn’t want to focus on such targets.

“I suppose [with] expectations. That’s the media’s job. My job is to remove them. Like, I want the players to feel like they’re 10 feet tall. They’re ready to go and let rip and leave everything on the court. And if that results in wins, which of course we will always try and win everything we’re a part of, for me, that’s all I care about. And if we happen to win games in the process, awesome,”

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BallinEurope’s Emmet Ryan captured the moment when Caitlin Clark of USA basketball called out a reporter for an inappropiate question about her and Angel Reese.

Watch the full video, which packaged together three videos in total to provide the full context, below:

Caitlin Clark did not take it kindly when a reporter asked her about whether or not she and Angel Reese were friends.

The incident happened during Clark’s mixed zone duties with the media after the USA beat France to win the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.

Clark subsequently pointed out the reporter she took issue with during Chelsea Gray’s media availability and a representative of USA basketball subsequently spent an extensive amount of time speaking with the reporter afterwards.

Clark spoke to reporters at length after the USA won gold after the final. Watch the full interview here:

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An epic surge sparked by a Caitlin Clark buzzer beater gave the USA all they needed to romp past France. Emmet Ryan reflects on a final that looked there for the taking for Gabby Williams and co but, in the end, the Americans claimed the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup crown. It was a game where Kara Lawson confounded her critics and Breanna Stewart drove the US to gold.

The USA saved its best for last. An utterly dominant third quarter explosion ensured the undefeated streak continues. France looked poised to deny the Americans for the first time in 20 years.

For 20 minutes, it certainly looked like they would. Instead, they wilted when it mattered most and the Americans won their fifth straight FIBA Women’s World Cup.

The most obvious tension

France were underdogs according to the bookies, the spread was around 7.5 points in favour of the US. Yet the overwhelming majority of people that had actually watched this tournament closely expected Les Bleus to win it all.

They had been, by a wide margin, the most impressive outfit throughout the competition so far. The USA, while unbeaten, were clearly hindered by an obstinate strategy to stick with their starters. It made for an odd combination as France were filled with belief while the Americans couldn’t exactly lean on an underdog mentality.

Kara Lawson opted to go with the same starting five that she had all tournament. It’s a decision she has been criticised for repeatedly, including by this site. Yet There was a clear belief that she had to prove herself right in the biggest game of all.

Stewie gets focal

When the USA has succeeded with its veteran line-up at the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup, it has usually involved running the offensive game through Breanna Stewart. They went for this early, with the resultant space also creating opportunities for those around her.

Crucially for the Americans, it meant that France didn’t run out to a huge lead early. So far in this tournament, once the Americans start to bring in the youngsters, they’ve been able to perform far better against all opponents.

Yet still, the intensity was clearly greater from France. That Was particularly visible on the defensive end. It was hardly like they lacked depth either. Being able to bring Marie Johannes and Dom Malonga off the bench doesn’t hurt.

France mixing it up

The natural assumption going into this one was that we’d see Gabby Williams rammed down the throats of the USA on both ends. France however were far more nuanced with her usage in the first half. Granted it only took 7 seconds of the whole game for her to stop the clock, when she kicked the ball while reaching for a steal.

Instead it was a smart mix of using what they had on a situational basis. Carla Leite was acting almost like a sweeper at both ends more than playmaker. Marie Johannes was able to be hyper selective offensively, albeit giving up one sloppy turnover. Valeriane Ayayi was able to mix up how she operated from leaning into strength or going pure off ball in her approach.

Even Dom Malonga’s finishing issues, which have plagued her in the knockout rounds, weren’t quite as costly as usual due to her net benefit at both ends. The result was France opening up the first double digit of the game after just 12 minutes.

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About the conventional wisdom

The normal thinking when trying to beat the USA in basketball, be it men’s or women’s, is that you need to build up a substantial lead. There will, inevitably, be a comeback and it’s pure survival mode from there.

Yet, if anything, it was France who looked far more capable of mounting a lengthy scoring run out of nowhere. There was an adequate blend of options while Gabby Williams was the only player on either side plausibly capable of the hero ball needed in such a situation.

Of course, several of you are roaring that Caitlin Clark could do that. Certainly, in the right situation she could. The way she had been used throughout the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup meant there was a greater chance of me being named Euroleague MVP than Clark being given the offensive reins for the USA.

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Gabby Williams gave France belief throughout the first half, mixing her own scoring with creation and defensive pressure as Les Bleus threatened to take control. (PIC: FIBA)

But we gotta talk about Gabby Williams

While France couldn’t quite break the game wide open in the first half, their leader and star was doing her part well. Three of her first four makes were from deep, while she leaned heavily into creator and help D far more than full takeover.

This is an awareness from Gabby Williams that is necessary at this level. She wanted the USA to focus on her, to make them over commit. When they dropped off, she could pick her shots while also enabling some significant misdirection on the defensive end.

The one concern really was the scoreboard. France were bringing so much energy, led by Williams, but the Americans were comfortably staying in touch. At least at the time. The chaotic approach of the French was visibly tiring the US players.

The necessary spark?

A Caitlin Clark three on the buzzer cut the gap to just two points at the break. Back to back scores from Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier gave the USA back the lead for the first time in an age. After her hardly being used offensively throughout the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup, had Clark actually managed to ignite the US?

That’s a touch oversimplifying things. If anything, it was Stewie’s extra energy that got the US vet lineup going to start the second half. She was overflowing with aggression. A three from Kahleah Copper moved the USA into a multiple possession lead that looked unthinkable a short while previously.

Jackie Young capped the run at 13-2 across the two sides of the break before France finally stopped to have a think. A US run was to be expected. What everyone else was assuming was that this France side could brush it aside and bounce back big time.

Breanna Stewart set the tone for the USA’s decisive second-half surge, bringing the aggression and energy that finally broke France open. (PIC: FIBA)

Jackie gets open

There’s little doubt that Jackie Young must have been surprised at how much space she found in the third quarter. She rattled off 8 points on two uncontested threes and a barely defended inside score.

Credit to her for being able to generate that kind of space for herself. It was however unusually sloppy from France. Young’s contribution enabled the US to stunt any effort at a quick comeback from France.

For Les Bleus to get out of this, they were going to need to out grind the US. This was their rough patch and they weren’t weathering it all that well. Dom Malonga’s energy was the only positive from an utterly rotten third quarter. With 10 minutes to play, France needed a miracle.

Kara Lawson stuck with her veteran starting unit despite criticism, and was rewarded when it delivered the USA’s decisive third-quarter surge. (PIC: FIBA)

Lawson answers the critics

I was far from alone in slating the USA head coach’s decision to stick with her veterans so stubbornly. Yet, clearly, when the game was won and lost it was that veteran line up that did the business for Kara Lawson.

The third quarter wasn’t just an epic collapse from France. It was, easily, the best the US vets have played as a unit throughout the whole of this tournament. Caitlin Clark may have scored some key buckets but it was Kahleah Copper, Breanna Stewart, and, especially, Jackie Young that ended this game as a contest.

The title win means that she will surely lead this side into Los Angeles in two years time as favourites to retain Olympic gold. That’s a title they have held since 1996, having not lost a single Olympic game since 5 August 1992.

The bar is still clear for all to see. Nobody else has been able to reach it.

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It was more of the same from the USA and that was barely enough. Kara Lawson once more went with her underperforming vets over the impressive trio of Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, and Angel Reese. It nearly cost her team a place in the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup final. Emmet Ryan says that, if Lawson sticks with this strategy, it will cost them the title.

It’s not working. It hasn’t worked. There’s no reason to believe it will work. Yet, still, despite all the evidence to the contrary, the USA is wasting a star-laden line-up at the FIBA Women’s World Cup. It almost cost them against Italy, it should have cost them tonight against Spain. There’s every reason to think that it will cost them Sunday against France.

There are solutions and there are stars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, who can implement them if given the freedom to do so. Nothing we’ve seen in Berlin gives us cause to think they’ll get that.

We’ve seen this movie before

Kara Lawson’s insistence on sticking with her veteran line-up to start is visibly having a negative impact on her side. The eyeball test, the stats, and the scoreboard, all agree on that front.

Spain had far more energy than the USA to start this game. Their movement on both ends was faster and, frankly, more sensible. It’s not so much that the US had poor structure as much as it was hard to work out what structure they even wanted.

Breanna Stewart was needlessly isolated on the outside Awa Fam in the offensive half court. Fam was obviously doing a fine job but even the most rudimentary of switches would have enabled Stewie to be far more productive.

Proper fearless stuff

Spain showed absolutely no respect for the status of their illustrious opponents. They went right at them from the off with Iyana Martin, Awa Fam, and Megan Gustafson all straight-up bringing it.

When Lawson finally started to rotate in her younger players, the USA was able to bring a bit of order to its game. The presence of Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark, and Angel Reese on the court added a necessary dash of adrenaline to the Americans.

It was still shy of the half court rhythm the US desperately needs in the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup, but the young guns meant the American fast break was actually relevant. Bueckers in particular stood out for making her aggressive play matter on the scoreboard.

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The difference is visible

The USA didn’t do anything overly creative to work its way back into this game. When the young guns came in, the game became more focused on driving at the interior and challenging Spain’s physicality.

That’s what has made this American side so frustrating to watch at the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup. When Jackie Young is the true vet on the floor with Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers, this is a team with the adequate intensity and movement at both ends to beat anyone.

Naturally, Breanna Stewart is the ideal other player to put with that quartet but her usage is critical to that. When the game is run through Stewie, everything opens up on the floor for the USA. Yet the US coaching staff has insisted on leaning into treating all of its talents as equals rather than having designated roles.

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Iyana Martin played without fear and was trusted to carry responsibility for Spain regardless of her age or the reputations around her. (PIC: FIBA)

Iyana Martin is her

There had already been plenty to like about Iyana Martin in this game but her double shake and back for a score to bring it back to a single possession difference in the second quarter drew audible gasps.

Spain has players with far more accomplishments than Martin as well as playing at a higher level. Yet there is simply no doubt that she’s the one they expect to deliver the most. Miguel Mendez isn’t standing on ceremony or expecting her to defer to veterans. He’s just doing what makes his team play their best basketball.

I fully expect Martin to be a revelation when she finally goes to Portland next season. It must have been particularly frustrating for USA fans to see Martin, a player younger than anyone on their roster being trusted to this degree. Yet neither Caitlin Clark nor Paige Bueckers has been truly unshackled throughout the tournament in Berlin.

Wash, rinse, repeat

You’ll never believe what the USA did to start the second half. Ok, you definitely will. They went back to their veteran starting 5, who were a combined -35 on +/- before Kara Lawson finally brought Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston back in the game.

Every possession the US vet line up spent on the floor was one that Spain could use to ensure they stayed right in this game. Clark, Boston, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers were doing all the work to swing the game in favour of the US on the scoreboard.

A complete refusal by Lawson to deviate from her pre-tournament plan has made life needlessly difficult for the Americans. This USA team is so much better when it leans into its strengths. The only person in Berlin that doesn’t realise this truism is the head coach of the US national team.

Breanna Stewart remained USA’s obvious focal point, but too often the offence failed to put her in positions where she could dominate. (PIC: FIBA)

A direct route to failure

Spain are a hell of a good basketball team but the USA should have never been in this much trouble. The issue has been clear going back to the Italy game and, structurally, there has been no clear attempt by the USA to change it.

The USA is sticking to a plan that isn’t working. They may be in a FIBA Women’s World Cup final but that’s not enough for this side. Anything less than gold is a failure, that’s what comes with wearing those three letters on your chest in international basketball.

Performance for performance, France have been light years better than the USA in this tournament. There is absolutely no rational reason to believe they won’t win Sunday’s final. France, who had never won a medal in the FIBA Women’s World Cup before this week, look ready to take the trophy comfortably.

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Gabby Williams put on a clinic but it was the sheer depth of France that carried them to the final of the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup. Emmet Ryan on how a game Germany just didn’t have enough to cope with an impressively business-like display by the French.

Absolute goosebumps. The French, to their credit, brought a solid travelling support but there was no doubt about who the hosts were. A packed Uber Arena arrived in hope more than expectation at this semi final of the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup.

France exist to crush dreams and this side has been determined, from the off, to let nothing get between them and a shot at the USA in the final.

Gabby came to play

The arena rose as the opening tip went up. Germany won possession and were working it nicely along the perimeter. Gabby Williams was in no mood to wait around. She smartly stole the ball from Leonie Fiebich and made a beeline for the left elbow to drain a three. This is a business trip for her but one with a point to be made.

Gabby has spoken a lot about how she struggled to find her place in life as someone of mixed race and dual nationality. On this France team, as its clear leader, she is at home. A couple of assists quickly followed her opening score as she sought to leave no doubt at the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup.

Just as Germany were rallying, she nailed a low probability bucket. A long two under pressure off one leg and it was perfect. Williams had seen what happened when Emma Meesseman was contained by Germany, she wasn’t going to let that happen here.

Forcing a track meet

Tactically, the French were sound and simple. With the deepest bench in the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup outside of the US, they decided to push the offensive tempo from the off. While the scoreboard gap wasn’t enormous, the plan had merit.

Forcing an offensively heavy game with shorter possessions was going to ask questions of Deutschland. While Germany had great success off the bench in their quarter final win over Belgium, this was an entirely different challenge. France could park Gabby Williams and Dom Malonga at their leisure and still have high quality contributors ready to maintain the pace.

Malonga however was having a mixed bag. She was drawing fouls on the inside at will but was still struggling to finish through contact. That changed the nature of the bill for Germany, it could bite them later but they’d take it for now.

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Taking advantage of the gaps

The offensive struggles of Malonga were the best thing going for Germany. With the France big opening an ugly 0 of 5 from the field, she was directly limiting the ability of her side to stretch the advantage.

That gave Germany just enough breathing room to maintain this as a contest. Lina Sontag has said throughout this tournament that her team needs to punch. Saturday was more about making sure any punch landed after France missed.

Collectively they were finding just enough to not get in an insurmountable hole. One one play it could be Marie Guelich, on another Nyara Sabally. It was all about finding someone, anyone, that could get the job done at a given time.

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Yet that sheer depth

Even when Gabby Williams sat, France could look to Valeriane Ayayi, Migna Toure, or Janelle Salaun. Carla Leite and Marine Johannes were on hand to contribute at will too. There was a clear rotation of 10 being used, with Jean Aime Toupane keen to keep everyone fresh.

It began to truly wear down the Germans by the midpoint of the second quarter. Toupane was no fool, he knew Deutschland may have a second wind in them. His goal was to force them to find a third, fourth, or even fifth one.

The hosts showed their second one through the back end of the first half. Yet Gabbly was out there making sure they had to use all of that gas. The French plan was simple and its execution was superb.

Valeriane Ayayi helped France turn their depth into a decisive advantage as Germany began to run out of answers. (PIC: FIBA)

This is the big time

Germany had managed to win over a lot of new admirers over the course of the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup. Their sheer relentless approach in wins over Japan, Mali, Korea, and Belgium, showed that they’ve taken a step up.

France showed there are higher rungs that aren’t quite within reach yet. Marieme Badiane and Valeriane Ayayi made light work stretching the lead beyond anything reasonable for Germany to reel in.

That’s where the depth comes to the fore. Gabby Williams showed that France could maintain this tempo all day. A simple deflection of a pass out of bounds took the wind out of yet another German possession. That’s all it takes. France have the depth of talent to ensure no assignment gets missed and every possible blow gets landed.

They got what they came here for

At the time of writing, France’s opponents in the final have yet to be decided. It would be an enormous upset were Spain to beat the USA in the later game. Getting the shot at the World Cup title, being the ones to finally end the streak.

For Gabby Williams in particular, this matters. The questions of her identity never stop coming from the trolls. The idea that someone could have the temerity to, checks notes, have parents from two different countries is too much for some dunderheads.

On this France team, she feels at home. She is the leader and she wants that gold. When La Marseillaise plays on Sunday, she’ll likely be playing against the country of her birth. A child of two countries, she has embraced being from both. Still, it’s Vive la France for those 40 minutes.

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