Belgian Women’s Basketball Team Celebrated After European Championship Victory
The Belgian women’s basketball team, crowned European champions on Sunday evening in Greece after a thrilling final against Spain, received significant recognition in Brussels on Monday evening. The Belgian Cats were welcomed by King Philippe at the Castle of Laeken, and a ceremony is scheduled at Brussels city hall at 9 pm, where they will meet their fans at the Grand Place., reports 24brussels.
The Belgian Cats triumphed over Spain with a score of 67-65, defending their European title from two years ago. Remarkably, they overcame a 12-point deficit in the final three minutes to secure a dramatic win.
The championship celebration began on Monday evening. After a brief flight delay, the Belgian Cats touched down in Belgium around 7:30 p.m. and were greeted with applause as they exited the plane, proudly wearing their medals.
The initial celebration took place at the Castle of Laeken, where King Philippe expressed his admiration for the team. “It was more than just sport,” he remarked, referring to the exciting final won by the Belgian Cats. “For Belgium, it was a sign to keep believing until the end and to win. This is Belgium as I like to see it.”
The team then proceeded to Brussels city hall, where they will greet a crowd of fans at approximately 9 pm from the balcony overlooking the Grand Place.
MVP Emma Meesseman Leads Team Celebrations
Despite the festivities, not all members of the Belgian Cats could attend. Julie Allemand has already returned to New York to rejoin her club, the Los Angeles Sparks, and Julie Vanloo went back to the Golden State Valkyries in San Francisco.
Emma Meesseman, the team’s standout player, was present for the celebrations. The 32-year-old forward from Ypres is recognized as one of Europe’s top players, with a remarkable record in both the EuroLeague and the American WNBA.
Meesseman was named the tournament’s most valuable player (MVP) after the final, marking her second consecutive win of the award. She achieved a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds in the final against Spain, averaging 19.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists over the tournament.
“It shows that you should never give up, whether in sport or in life,” Meesseman emphasized.
“I don’t remember individual trophies: what I will always remember are the trophies and the celebrations with the whole team,” she stated during the post-match press conference in Greece. Reflecting on the dramatic finish, she added, “Coming back from a 12-point deficit is incredible; I still can’t quite believe it. I’ve never experienced this in my career, at least not in a final. It shows that you should never give up, whether in sport or in life. I will always be very proud of this.”
