Hazel Finn pictured in action for NUIG. Now with FloMAX Liffey Celtics, Hazel has been called up to the Ireland squad for upcoming FIBA Women's EuroBasket qualifiers. Photo: Sportsfile

Mayo native called up to Ireland squad for EuroBasket qualifiers

Mayo native Hazel Finn has been called up to the Ireland squad for upcoming FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025 qualifiers.

Finn, from Kiltimagh, is one of three players who could be handed senior debuts when Ireland take on Latvia in Riga tomorrow evening (Thursday) in their latest qualifier.

The 21-year-old FloMAX Liffey Celtics player is joined by 19-year-old Caitlin Gloeckner of Cleveland Rockets and 17-year-old Aisling Moran from Trinity Meteors as newcomers in the Irish squad for the game, which tips off at 17.40 Irish time and can be viewed on the TG4 Player and app.

Head coach James Weldon has also handed recalls to Alexandra Mulligan and Abigail Rafferty, who missed Ireland’s 64-60 friendly win over the Netherlands at the National Basketball Arena in August. Both players last featured for Ireland in a two-game friendly series with Uganda earlier this year.

Speaking following his squad announcement, Weldon said: “I’m excited to have Hazel, Caitlin and Aisling in the squad. All three have excelled for Ireland at underage level and they’ve started the National League season well with their respective teams.

“It’s difficult coming in for your first cap against a team such as Latvia, who have a number of players playing at a very high level across Europe, but I’ve no doubt that everyone in the squad is looking forward to meeting that challenge head-on tomorrow evening.”

Latvia are ranked 28th in the latest FIBA Women’s World Rankings and sit in second position in Group E, two places ahead of Ireland. The winners of the eight qualifying groups and the four best-ranked runners-up will qualify for FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2025.

Ireland’s other Group E fixture in this window is against Israel on Sunday (November 10) at 12.15 Irish time, and can be seen live on the FIBA YouTube channel. The game will once again take place at a neutral venue – the Rimi Olympic Village in Riga.

Finn is a former Maree and University of Galway player. She is the daughter of former Mayo senior footballers John and Bernie Finn, while her sister Dayna also played ladies' football for Mayo and basketball for Trinity Meteors before heading to Australia to take up AFL with Carlton.

As well as Finn, Gloeckner and Moran, the Irish squad features the following: Amy Dooley (Midlands Park Portlaoise Panthers), Bridget Herlihy (Unicaja, Spain), Kate Hickey (SETU Waterford Wildcats), Sarah Hickey (SETU Waterford Wildcats), Áine O’Connor (FloMAX Liffey Celtics), Alexandra Mulligan (Trinity Meteors), Grace Prenter (Trinity Meteors) and Abigail Rafferty (Oakland Wolves, England).