Bouncing back after a bitter setback and growing together as a real team: The insights from the 2026 home World Cup for your own training.
The start of an important tournament or a big game does not always go to plan. The German women's basketball team also had to experience this painfully at the 2026 home World Cup in Berlin. After a clear 53:83 defeat in the opening game against Spain, national coach Olaf Lange's team was immediately under enormous pressure. But instead of collapsing, the team showed an impressive reaction. Recreational athletes and amateur teams can draw valuable lessons for their own training and competition from this sporting comeback and strong team spirit.
After the failed opening game against Spain, which national player Nyara Sabally bluntly described as a "shitty game" according to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, the team had their backs to the wall. National coach Lange spoke of "growing pains" because the team was not yet well-played together. But in the following game against Japan, the team presented themselves completely transformed and won 74:58 (in some Sportschau reports, the result is differently stated as 68:43). According to Lange, the key was that the players refocused and consistently left the mistakes of the previous day behind them.
For your own training, this means: A bad day, a botched training session or a clear defeat in a recreational match are no reason to hang your head. Use the experience as a guide to consistently implement the basics like defense or passing in the next attempt.
A key success factor for the DBB selection was the strong team spirit. Captain Marie Gülich, who returned just in time for the World Cup after a 14-month break due to a cruciate ligament tear, emphasized the difference to everyday club life in a Sportschau interview. While club basketball in different countries often feels more like a job, in the national team it feels like real passion because you play with people you grew up with. The interplay between Frieda Bühner and Emma Eichmeyer, who had already been playing together in Osnabrück since 2018, also benefited from this deep familiarity.
Amateur teams can start right here. Shared fun and blind understanding on the court arise from shared experiences and rituals – be it the shared music selection in the changing room or warming up together. If the team spirit is right, even a difficult sporting moment is easier to get through.
In the decisive final group game against the physically strong team from Mali, the German women relied on an aggressive defense and dominated the rebound. Despite minor phases of weakness and lack of concentration, they did not let themselves get rattled, worked hard on defense and secured their entry into the next round with a clear 83:58. They also did not let themselves be permanently thrown off course by unforeseen events such as a night-time fire alarm in the team hotel or the illness-related absence of point guard Alexis Peterson in the Japan game.
For recreational athletes, this shows: Focusing on the basics is the best protection against hectic play. When things are not running smoothly in the game, it helps to focus on simple, well-practiced routines instead of forcing complicated things.
Your takeaway: Accept sporting setbacks as part of the development process and focus on the simple basics together with your team in difficult phases.
This article was generated automatically with AI from the sources listed above and has not been editorially reviewed.