Slovenia lost the first two games at the European Women Basketball Championship, ruining their prospects to make it to the quarter-finals for the first time, the goal at what is their fourth EuroBasket to date.

The team lost against Germany 62:66 at Stožice Arena in Ljubljana on 16 June and 71:76 against Great Britain on 15 June, when the event opened.

It was not for lack of fighting spirit or desire to win, but both games exposed the same weaknesses - a narrow pool of players and a lack of height under the hoop.

Coach Georgios Dikaiulakos, a Greek expert coaching the team since 2021, said he was nevertheless "proud of the players".

"They have the right character, which they showed today, but for the second time we were left empty-handed. Just like against Great Britain, we had our chances, but we couldn't take them.

It was the little things that decided the winner ... Despite the disappointment, I'm convinced Slovenian women's basketball has a bright future," he said.

Zala Friškovec, the team's top scorer, is proud of her fellow players as well. "We did our best, put a lot of energy into this game, but unfortunately it didn't work out. It was difficult to play without Eva Lisec, who sat on the bench with five personal fouls."

The team will play their last game on 18 June against France, the only team in group C ranked higher in FIBA rankings than Slovenia and one of the favourites for the title.

Slovenia is hosting the tournament together with Israel until 25 June, with Serbia defending their EuroBasket 2021 title.

This is the second time Slovenia hosts a EuroBasket, after the country organised the European basketball championship for men in 2013.