Fágbénlé Leads Great Britain’s EuroBasket Charge
A WNBA Star Returns to International Competition
Temi Fágbénlé, captain of Great Britain’s women’s basketball team, is back on the court. Balancing WNBA demands and national team duties, she is leading the charge at the EuroBasket tournament. The team is aiming for a strong showing in the competition.
“I’m thankful teams see European competition as a priority for some of us. They’ve accommodated where they could.”
—Temi Fágbénlé, Captain of GB’s Women’s Basketball Team
The 2025 edition of EuroBasket is underway. Fágbénlé’s presence is vital, as a leading WNBA player who participates in an international tournament during the season. The tournament is a qualifying metric for the Women’s World Cup and the Olympics.
Adapting to a New Game
For Fágbénlé, the transition from the WNBA to EuroBasket requires court adjustments. The three-second rule in the European league is different. Great Britain’s team includes semi-pros and amateurs alongside professionals.
She explains the shared goals of the national team. There are fewer individual agendas within the team. Fágbénlé highlights the significance of teamwork. She notes how they want to win for their country.
From London to the WNBA and Beyond
Born in Baltimore and raised in London, Fágbénlé had tennis as her first love. She later switched to basketball, playing at a club in Haringey, then at Harvard and the University of Southern California. She was the first Briton to win a WNBA championship in 2017, with the Minnesota Lynx. She returned to the US with the Indiana Fever, where she combined with Caitlin Clark.
The Fever reached the playoffs in 2016. In the 2024 season, the team experienced a lot of media attention. Fágbénlé and Clark formed a dynamic duo. Clark is a great passer, and Fágbénlé was happy to complement her game.
Team Mentality and Future Goals
Teamwork didn’t come naturally to Fágbénlé initially. The quiet London teenager found it a challenge to feel like she was contributing. However, she learned the importance of communication, and now she’s known as a vocal leader. According to recent NBA data, women’s basketball is experiencing a surge in popularity.
The 32-year-old is now with the Golden State Valkyries, a team of “sixth women.” The Valkyries were formed through an expansion draft, selecting players from other teams. Fágbénlé believes her team will be contenders.
“I will be indebted to basketball for the rest of my life. Basketball shows you who you are in times of adversity and I’ve been able to find the weak points in my character and fix them. Resilience is a skill that is to be honed. And I’ve really been honing it over the years.”
—Temi Fágbénlé, Captain of GB’s Women’s Basketball Team
Fágbénlé’s journey, from a quiet London teenager to a team leader, mirrors the spirit of the GB’s EuroBasket squad. She is at the heart of a team defying expectations and setting the standard.
