Stuttgart as a basketball stronghold: U-18 team achieves promotion!

Stuttgart as a basketball stronghold: U-18 team achieves promotion!

The basketball scene in Stuttgart recently experienced a significant upswing. On June 17, 2025, the MTV Stuttgart U-18 team announced that it would be promoted to the Junior Bundesliga (WNBL). This puts Stuttgart on a par with cities like Berlin and Munich, which also have two U-18 teams in the top national league of female youth basketball. The local talents secured their place in the WNBL thanks to an impressive promotion round in Freiburg, in which they won all six games. Stuttgart's regional team had already secured a starting place in this coveted league by participating in the playoffs, like Stuttgarter News reported.

What does this mean for the city and its young population? Basketball is increasingly becoming a popular sport, and the success of the junior girls is an excellent sign for the future of the sport in Baden-Württemberg. Promotion to the WNBL is not only an honor, but also an opportunity for young players to showcase their talent on a bigger stage.

Growing influence in the region

However, MTV Stuttgart is not only active with youth teams. The women's team in the second Bundesliga is also involved in the competition for the playoff places. On January 29, 2024, the team achieved a remarkable home win against Munich Basket with a final score of 85:66. The team, led by coach DaSilva, impressed by maintaining the lead in every quarter. The performance of Aleksandra Rikanović, who scored 27 points, was particularly outstanding, followed by Salma El-Haiwan with 19 points and numerous assists and steals. Despite various injury concerns, the team has developed into a unit that absorbs the training rhythm better and adapts to the opponents. Toyota DBBL highlights that U21 players are increasingly taking on responsibility, which further brightens the prospects for the future.

According to coach DaSilva, the team is well on the way to finding its rhythm, which will be crucial for the rest of the season. The goal is to stay in touch with the playoff places, which is aimed for with the next game against Dillingen on February 3, 2024.

Community and support

The spectators, around 120 of whom have recently come to the home games, feel the increasing enthusiasm for basketball and the development of the women's team. Additionally, it is important to mention the challenges that many players face, as college and career often come after basketball. Nevertheless, the players experience a strong sense of community, whereby success and responsibility are shared.

Overall, it is clear that Stuttgart is increasingly becoming a stronghold for women's basketball. With the rise of the U-18 team and the success of the women's team, the basis has been laid for us to be able to celebrate sporting successes in the coming years. The city can be excited to see what the future holds for the basketball community. With a clear focus on team spirit and performance, MTV Stuttgart would like to continue to demonstrate a good hand in identifying and promoting talent. These developments could act as a catalyst for even greater engagement and support in the region.