Istanbulluoglu, Walz Selected for Türkiye Women's National Team
June 16, 2025 | Women's Basketball
The duo will participate in the 2025 FIBA Women's EuroBasket
ISTANBUL — University of Louisville forward Elif Istanbulluoglu and head coach Jeff Walz are overseas to take part with the Türkiye Women's National Team once again this summer. Walz will serve as an assistant coach on the staff while Istanbulluoglu will be one of 17 players named to the senior national team that will be competing at the 2025 FIBA Women's EuroBasket. The tournament will be held from June 18-29 in Czechia, Germany, Greece and Italy.
Türkiye is one of 16 European nations that will compete in the tournament this summer. The tournament begins with the group phase and Türkiye is in Group A with Greece, France and Switzerland.
The Group Phase will begin on June 18 with the opening game against France and June 19 against Switzerland before a rest day on June 20. The final group game on June 21 against Greece will determine the seeding for the Round of 16 stage based on their position. The competition will continue in the form of the bracket until the Final on June 29, with Classification Games also determining each of the 16 positions.
Istanbulluoglu and Walz were both with the U20 national team last summer at the 2024 U20 FIBA Eurobasket in Lithuania. Istanbulluoglu played in all seven games and led the team with 32.8 minutes played per game. She also led the team with 6.6 rebounds per game and was second with 16.3 points per game. Türkiye concluded the tournament with a win over Latvia in the seventh-place game.
Walz has plenty of international experience with USA Basketball in a number of different tournaments. In total, Walz has won four gold medals during his time with USA Basketball. He won gold as the head coach of the 2019 Women's U19 National Team in Bangkok and the 2018 U18 team in Mexico City. Walz was on the staff for the 2014 Women's U-18 National Team and worked as an assistant for the 2014 Women's U-19 World Championship Team and both squads earned gold medals. In July of 2023, Walz led the Louisville Cardinals to a gold medal in the 2023 GLOBL JAM tournament as representatives from the United States.
Istanbulluoglu is no stranger to the Turkish national teams as she has suited up for them in the past. In the summer of 2023, Istanbulluoglu participated with Türkiye at the FIBA U18 and U20 championships. At the U18 Championships, she averaged 11.0 points and 10.7 rebounds per game and helped Türkiye reach the quarterfinals. At the U20 Championships, Türkiye finished eighth and she averaged double figures with 10.7 points per game during the tournament.
To stay up to date on all things Louisville women's basketball, visit GoCards.com, or follow the team's Instagram account at @LouisvilleWBB, X account at @LouisvilleWBB or on Facebook at facebook.com/louisvillewbb.
Türkiye is one of 16 European nations that will compete in the tournament this summer. The tournament begins with the group phase and Türkiye is in Group A with Greece, France and Switzerland.
The Group Phase will begin on June 18 with the opening game against France and June 19 against Switzerland before a rest day on June 20. The final group game on June 21 against Greece will determine the seeding for the Round of 16 stage based on their position. The competition will continue in the form of the bracket until the Final on June 29, with Classification Games also determining each of the 16 positions.
Istanbulluoglu and Walz were both with the U20 national team last summer at the 2024 U20 FIBA Eurobasket in Lithuania. Istanbulluoglu played in all seven games and led the team with 32.8 minutes played per game. She also led the team with 6.6 rebounds per game and was second with 16.3 points per game. Türkiye concluded the tournament with a win over Latvia in the seventh-place game.
Walz has plenty of international experience with USA Basketball in a number of different tournaments. In total, Walz has won four gold medals during his time with USA Basketball. He won gold as the head coach of the 2019 Women's U19 National Team in Bangkok and the 2018 U18 team in Mexico City. Walz was on the staff for the 2014 Women's U-18 National Team and worked as an assistant for the 2014 Women's U-19 World Championship Team and both squads earned gold medals. In July of 2023, Walz led the Louisville Cardinals to a gold medal in the 2023 GLOBL JAM tournament as representatives from the United States.
Istanbulluoglu is no stranger to the Turkish national teams as she has suited up for them in the past. In the summer of 2023, Istanbulluoglu participated with Türkiye at the FIBA U18 and U20 championships. At the U18 Championships, she averaged 11.0 points and 10.7 rebounds per game and helped Türkiye reach the quarterfinals. At the U20 Championships, Türkiye finished eighth and she averaged double figures with 10.7 points per game during the tournament.
To stay up to date on all things Louisville women's basketball, visit GoCards.com, or follow the team's Instagram account at @LouisvilleWBB, X account at @LouisvilleWBB or on Facebook at facebook.com/louisvillewbb.
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