ANTWERP, BELGIUM – Emma Messeman was doubly congratulated after being named TISSOT Player of the Year at the 2024 FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualification Tournament in Antwerp.
Messeman, the host nation’s star player, was the driving force behind the Belgian Cats’ ticket to Paris 2024. She finished the tournament with an excellent performance efficiency of 26.7, averaging 17.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 3.0 steals per game. Go out.
The forward displayed his leadership skills on a record night for Belgium as a record 13,700 fans packed into Sport Palace to watch the game for the ages. Despite Belgium suffering a dramatic 81-79 loss to the United States on Brianna Stewart’s tip-in at the buzzer, Messeman received much praise for his contribution.
But it was against Senegal on Friday that she turned the dial all the way up to help Belgium earn a ticket to Paris. Messeman sealed her deal with a whopping 32 points, and closed out the tournament with an impressive 14 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, and 6 steals against Nigeria.
Messeman joins the All-Star Five alongside Americans Nafeesa Collier and Ryne Howard, Nigeria’s Amy Okonkwo and Senegal’s Yassin Diop.
Collier had a great performance in Antwerp, contributing 19.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.7 steals, and 3.0 assists per game, helping America go 3-3 in the tournament.
She was joined by American teammate Rhyne Howard, who also put her skills to good use, scoring an impressive 25 points in the final day’s contest against Senegal. She contributed 19.5 points and 4.5 boards per game.
Okonkwo showed why she was named the FIBA Women’s Afro Basketball 2023 MVP last year. She was especially impactful in a close game against arch-rival Senegal, where she averaged 15.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists.
Finally, although Yassine Diop will not be able to show her full potential at the Paris 2024 Games, her efforts with the Senegalese team have been recognized by earning her the final spot in the lineup. She individually stepped up a gear, posting an eye-catching 19.7 points, 2.7 assists, and 2.3 rebounds per game.
FIBA