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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Yara El-Shaboury

‘How did I get here?’: GB basketball captain Temi Fágbénlé’s journey from shy London teen to WNBA

Temi Fágbénlé in action for her current side, Golden State Valkyries.
Temi Fágbénlé in action for her current side, Golden State Valkyries. ‘We’re going to be contenders,’ she says. Photograph: Noah Graham/NBAE/Getty Images

“It’s great to be back with Great Britain,” Temi Fágbénlé says, her voice carrying the quiet confidence of a seasoned international basketball player. “I come from the WNBA but I’m glad I was able to make both work.” For the captain of GB’s women’s basketball team, balancing the demands of the world’s premier league with national team duties is a familiar tightrope walk. “I’m thankful teams see European competition as a priority for some of us. They’ve accommodated where they could.”

EuroBasket, a biennial competition, is one of the biggest international tournaments in the game. It is also a qualifying metric for the Women’s World Cup and the Olympics. With the 2025 edition under way, Fágbénlé’s presence is crucial as one of the leading WNBA players choosing to play in an international tournament during the season.

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