Three Coaches - One Moment

Austria’s November Window That Turned Heads

All photo credits goes to Martin Pröll and Basketball Austria

In the November 2025 FIBA women’s EuroBasket qualifiers window, a compact but lethal Austrian group: Sarah Sagerer, Sigrid Koizar and Anja Knoflach. They helped steer a memorable run for the national team. Playing with grit, smart rotations and clutch execution, Austria came away successful against Great Britain, Switzerland and Norway. Results that mean a lot more when you look at the rankings and context.

The Results

Austria vs Norway (Nov 12, 2025)
Another victory in the November window, where Sarah Sagerer led in points.

Austria 71 – Great Britain 67 (Nov 15, 2025)
A tight, controlled win in which Sigrid Koizar led the way in efficiency for Austria. fiba.basketball

Austria 97 – Switzerland 78 (Nov 18, 2025)
An offensive explosion and a confident team performance away from home, where Anja Knoflach played very important minutes to help the team win. AiScore

Why these wins matter

(rankings + context)

FIBA world rankings show the scale of what Austria accomplished this window:

Austria: World ranking: 82nd (women). fiba.basketball

Great Britain: World ranking: 22nd (women). Defeating a team ranked in the low-20s is a significant upset on paper. fiba.basketball

Switzerland: World ranking: ~49th (women). Austria’s 97–78 win was a decisive result versus a mid-ranked European side. fiba.basketball+1

Norway: World ranking: ~68th (women). Another ranked opponent and another proof point for Austria. fiba.basketball+1

Beating teams that sit substantially higher in FIBA’s list, especially Great Britain at #22, isn’t just a “good day.” It changes how opponents scout you, how you’re seeded in future windows, and it builds real belief inside a squad.

What players/coaches do in between windows

After the November 2025 games, they'll return to their respective club teams for the regular club season, wherever they are playing domestically or abroad. They’ll continue training and competing there: maintaining form, fitness, and gaining match rhythm. When FIBA calls up the national team again (next in March 2026), they’ll reassemble to renew preparation, training camp, tactics and build cohesion, with an eye on qualification. The coaching staff and leadership, whether still directly coaching or in a coordinating/mentorship capacity, will likely monitor club performances, track fitness, and help select or advise national-team roster and strategy.

What’s next: the road ahead in Qualifiers

FIBA world rankings show the scale of what Austria accomplished this window:

According to the official Qualifiers system, the First Round continues beyond November 2025. The next window is scheduled for March 2026. The same group of four (including Austria) will meet again in that window. fiba.basketball+1

If Austria finishes among the top two in its group, or is among the top three third-placed teams (depending on group size and ranking), they will advance to the Second Round. fiba.basketball+1The Second Round (if qualified) will include further windows: one in November 2026 and the final in February 2027. fiba.basketball+1

The ultimate goal: secure one of the available 12 qualifying spots for the final tournament of EuroBasket 2027. fiba.basketball+1

The November 2025 wins were only the beginning. Over the next ~1.5 years, players will rotate back to their clubs, but reconvene with the national team when windows come up, aiming to build on momentum and clinch qualification.