Germany’s women’s national basketball team wrapped up their final preparation matches for the upcoming home World Cup with a narrow 62–63 defeat against Turkey at a double-header event in Cologne’s Lanxess Arena. The loss marks the third defeat in the third and last preparation game for head coach Olaf Lange’s squad ahead of the tournament running from September 4 to September 13.
Struggles from Beyond the Arc and a Missed Opportunity
Playing in front of a substantial crowd during the afternoon session in Cologne, the German team faced early offensive hurdles. The team missed their first six attempts from three-point range before Alexandra Wilke broke the drought shortly before the end of the opening quarter. That sequence sparked an 11–0 run that carried the hosts to a 30–17 advantage.
Despite establishing a comfortable lead built around Wilke’s team-high 15 points, lapses in concentration allowed Turkey to claw back into the contest. In the game’s waning seconds, Alexis Peterson had an opportunity to secure a victory for Germany but missed the final shot with just nine seconds remaining on the clock, sealing a one-point defeat.
Roster Constraints and WNBA Availability
Head coach Olaf Lange managed the match with a roster missing several international standouts. Luisa Geiselsöder of Portland Fire was the only active WNBA player available for selection against Turkey. Her club teammate Frieda Bühner sat on the bench but did not see playing time.
Meanwhile, injured Nyara Sabally of Toronto Tempo watched from the stands and remains a doubt for the World Cup alongside her sister Satou. Leonie Fiebich of New York Liberty is expected to join the national team setup in the coming days, a reinforcement Lange anticipates will shift the dynamic of the squad significantly before competitive fixtures begin.
Coaching Perspective and Upcoming World Cup Schedule
Reflecting on the preparation phase, which included a 60–65 loss to Spain and a 62–68 defeat against Hungary, coach Lange remained outwardly calm. “That doesn’t make me all that nervous,” Lange told MagentaSport, noting that his team lost their rhythm in the third quarter but gained valuable lessons.
The DBB squad opens its World Cup campaign on Friday against European Championship runners-up Spain, with group matches in Berlin also featuring encounters against Japan on September 5 and Mali on September 7. Group winners advance directly to the quarterfinals, while second- and third-place finishers enter a cross-over qualification round for remaining knockout spots as Germany pursues a tournament medal.
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