Luxembourg’s women’s national basketball team; Credit: FIBA

On Wednesday 12 November 2025, Luxembourg’s women’s national basketball team defeated Ireland in their debut match of the first round of the FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2027 Qualifiers.

For new Red Lionesses head coach Patrick Unger, the trip to Ireland marked his first match in charge of the national team, with Luxembourg fielding six different players compared to the line-up used in their most recent EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers defeat against Montenegro in February 2025.

Luxembourg’s starting five featured Dionne Madjo (Flammes Carolo, France), Joyce Isi Etute (IMG Academy, USA), Svenia Nurenberg (T71 Dudelange), Magaly Meynadier (Saarlouis, Germany) and Anne Simon (Magnolia Campobasso, Italy).

Luxembourg built an early advantage, leading by eleven points at the end of the first quarter and going into half-time 37-21 ahead. The team’s strongest first-half contribution came from Magaly Meynadier, who recorded nine points and five rebounds.

In the third quarter, Luxembourg extended their lead to 26 points, with Magaly Meynadier reaching eleven points and Dionne Madjo joining her on the same tally. In the final period, Patrick Unger’s side allowed Ireland to reduce the deficit, but ultimately secured a 69-53 victory.

The team's top scorer was Anne Simon with fourteen points, while Madjo recorded a double-double - thirteen points and ten rebounds, and Meynadier also finished with thirteen points.

Head coach Patrick Unger commented: “We had a strong and aggressive defensive effort for three and a half quarters and followed the game plan well, especially on the defensive end of the court. Offensively, some things worked well but we need to make adjustments for the upcoming games.” He added: “Israel and Bosnia Herzegovina will be different opponents. Overall, we are happy that we had a good start into the competition. On Thursday morning, we will continue to work to improve as a team.”

In the parallel fixture, Israel claimed its first win of the campaign with a 98-91 victory away to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Luxembourg will next face Israel on Saturday 15 November 2025 at 20:00, with the match taking place in Riga, Latvia.