The Israel Women’s National Basketball Team will return to EuroBasket qualifying action this Wednesday when the blue-and-white hosts Poland in the first of three games during the November international window. After completing the opening round with a perfect 6-0 record, Head Coach Shira Haelion’s squad faces a significantly tougher challenge ahead, with additional matchups against Turkey and Montenegro.

One player Israel will be counting on heavily during the upcoming window is Abby Meyers.

The former Princeton standout is once again playing under Haelion at Maccabi Bnot Ashdod, marking her second stint with the club. After enjoying considerable success in the Israeli domestic league, Meyers will now look to translate that form onto the international stage as Israel takes aim at a place in EuroBasket.

Ahead of the three important contests, The Sports Rabbi sat down with Meyers for an extensive conversation about the challenges awaiting Israel, her relationship with Haelion, her basketball journey from Princeton and Maryland to the WNBA and Europe and what returning to Israel means to her personally.

“It feels super special to be back with the national team,” Meyers began. “I’m glad to be back and see familiar faces. Obviously, last year being my first year, I had to learn the system and get to know everybody, but now I definitely feel like I’m part of a family, and I’m just excited for the qualifiers.”

A new challenge awaits Israel

Israel enters the November window riding the momentum of a perfect first round, but Meyers knows the level of competition is about to take a significant step forward.

“Obviously, in the first round, we had our own challenges and growing pains,” she explained. “Respect to those teams, but they’re not going to be the Turkish and Polish teams, with their really tall, big and talented players, that we’re going to see now. We’re going to prepare and give them our best shot and the goal is to get some wins.”

For Meyers, the opportunity to help Israel reach EuroBasket would be a significant achievement, particularly given her experience playing basketball throughout Europe, “I obviously know how big EuroBasket is in Europe. For me, I just want to contribute positively in any way that I can to help the team beat these great teams that we have ahead of us.”

A key part of Israel’s preparation will be the leadership of Haelion, whom Meyers also works with at Ashdod. Having recently returned from a EuroCup trip to Chemnitz, the forward had plenty of praise for her coach and the way she connects with her players.

“Shira is great. She’s really one of those coaches who knows how to communicate well with her players, and she’s just so passionate,” Meyers said. “We’re on a four-hour flight and she’s watching film on Poland to get us prepared. You can just sense her passion and love for the players, the game and coaching. I know we’ll be as prepared as we can be, thanks to her and of course, her staff.”

From Princeton and Maryland to the professional ranks

Meyers’ basketball journey has taken her through some of the most respected programs in American college basketball. After beginning her collegiate career at Princeton and being named the Ivy League Player of the Year in her final season with the Tigers in 2022, she transferred to Maryland, which were experiences that helped shape both her approach to the game and her professional mentality.

Looking back, Meyers pointed to hard work, discipline and an authentic love of basketball as the biggest lessons she took from both programs, “For me, it was just hard work and a true, authentic passion for the game. Obviously, now with NIL and everything changing, I think people’s love for basketball can sometimes be influenced by the financial outcome. But at Princeton and Maryland, I absolutely loved my environment.

“I loved working really hard, waking up at 5:30 in the morning sometimes to get things done, whether it was lifting or just taking in the whole atmosphere of college basketball. It definitely prepared me, made me disciplined and taught me to follow different routines in my professional career.”

Her accomplishments in college eventually led to one of the biggest moments of her career when the Washington Mystics selected her with the 11th overall pick in the WNBA Draft.

For someone from the Washington, D.C. area, the moment carried special significance, “Throughout the journey of basketball, you have high moments and low moments, and that was definitely one of the highest moments for me. Being able to celebrate at home with my family and seeing my name called was a true honor.

“It was a cool ride that summer, playing in Dallas for training camp and then with the Mystics for a little bit. That’s something nobody can take away from me, being the 11th pick. It’s definitely a really cool experience and I’m lucky to have been selected.”

Although her time in the WNBA was relatively brief, Meyers came away with plenty of lessons from competing alongside some of the best players in the world, “My experience in the WNBA wasn’t very long, but obviously I’m lucky to have had it,” she said. “It’s such a high-IQ player’s game. The players are the ones on the bench coaching each other, and the timeouts are very player-oriented.

“Overseas, you see a more simplified but highly professional environment. Everyone has their routines. People show up three hours before games. Here, sometimes we arrive on the bus an hour and a half before tipoff. It’s just different, but you learn from the professionals around you. I learned a lot in the WNBA and was able to take those routines with me.”

One particularly memorable experience involved Elena Delle Donne, a player Meyers had admired long before they became teammates in Washington, “I’m from the D.C. area, so when I was 15, I would go to Mystics games and watch her when she was with the Chicago Sky. I’d go early to watch her warm up, and I even got a picture with her.”

“When I was with the Mystics, I mentioned it to a former teammate and they brought us together and showed her the picture of me when I was 15. We had a laugh about it. Meeting your idol was really cool and she’s just a great person.”

Finding success across Europe

Meyers’ transition to European basketball proved to be another important chapter in her development. Her first stop was London, where she enjoyed a tremendous season, winning both the EuroCup and British League championships while earning Finals MVP honors.

Despite the impressive collection of silverware, Meyers emphasized that the journey was far from straightforward, “I couldn’t have picked a better place for my own personal growth. I was challenged throughout the year. I dealt with an injury in the preseason, and my playing time was variable, but the people around me were incredible.

“It was a really high-caliber, WNBA-certified team and I learned so much from the players and staff. For my first true year overseas, it was amazing. We were able to grow close as a group, and London is an incredible city. It all culminated in that Finals game, but you don’t always see the hard work behind it and the struggles. The first year overseas is difficult for anybody, so it was good to finish with a win and a trophy.”

From London, Meyers moved to Israel and joined Maccabi Bnot Ashdod, where she enjoyed another successful campaign and helped the club capture the league championship. Her first full season in Israel left a lasting impression, not only because of what she accomplished on the court but also because of the environment surrounding the team.

“Another great year. I’ve had a really privileged professional career so far, but coming to Israel was just amazing,” Meyers said. “I think a lot of players can say that about their first year here. The Shabbat dinners, the community, how supportive Ashdod is and how beautiful the city is all made it special.

“I fell in love with Israel during the Maccabiah Games and that continued when I came back. When you have that kind of comforting environment, you’re allowed to play to your fullest potential. That’s how I felt, and we had a really great year.”

Meyers also spent time in Spain with Avenida, one of the most established clubs in European women’s basketball. Although the team had competed in the EuroLeague the previous season, her campaign with the club came in the EuroCup.

She described the experience as one that came with a different level of expectation and pressure, “Avenida is another great, high-reputation club, probably one of the most historic clubs in Europe, and that was a big reason why I went there. It felt like a business. You’re playing with a team that has dozens of trophies from the EuroLeague and Spanish League and you understand that there’s a reputation and a standard to uphold.

“The fans definitely made sure we heard it if we didn’t play well. I learned a lot in Spain. There was plenty of travel, and it’s obviously a much bigger country than Israel, but it was another great experience.”

She will now have the opportunity to share the court with Israeli teammate Yarden Garzon at the national team level, after following her development and move to Avenida. Meyers explained that the two had already spoken about playing overseas, particularly because they share the same agent.

“She’s with Avenida, which is a great EuroLeague team, and she was at Maryland last year, so I was able to see her a few times during the summer. We have the same agent, so we were able to talk and pick her brain about where she was interested in playing overseas. She has a great agent, I should know and she’s definitely been put in the best position for her. I’m excited to finally play on the same team with her because I played against her in Indiana and missed her at Maryland.”

Israel feels like home

After spending time in Spain, Meyers decided to return to Ashdod for another season, a decision that was rooted in much more than basketball.

For her, finding the right environment and feeling valued as a person are just as important as what happens between the lines, “The simplest way to put it is: Go where they want you. Go to a place that’s going to value all of you, not just your basketball, but also the person you are. Go somewhere you feel you can be your genuine self and won’t be put down because of that.
“Israel is a place where I feel at home. Why would I want to go anywhere else?”

That connection to Israel began well before her professional career brought her to Ashdod. Meyers first visited the country as a participant in the Maccabiah Games, an experience that helped establish a personal bond that has only grown stronger over the years. She was part of the gold-medal-winning American team and was named MVP of the final, but the memories went well beyond basketball.

“The Maccabiah Games gave me so much excitement about being in Israel. It was my first time ever visiting, and it was such an all-encompassing experience. We toured Jerusalem, visited Yad Vashem and saw Tel Aviv and the beaches. The whole experience really made me fall in love with the country. I knew I was going to find myself back in Israel one day, and here I am.”
Meyers also discussed how her Jewish identity has developed throughout her life. Growing up in the Washington, D.C. area, she described her family’s connection as primarily cultural, with holidays and synagogue attendance playing an important role.

“I would say there was a strong cultural connection, more than a religious one. My family and I always celebrated the major holidays, including Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Passover and Hanukkah. We were part of Washington Hebrew Congregation growing up, and we would go to synagogue for the major holidays. But as I’ve gotten older and become more connected to Israel and the people here, I would say my Jewish identity has strengthened.”

A special national team environment

Beyond the opportunity to compete for a place at EuroBasket, Meyers has quickly developed an appreciation for the unique chemistry within the Israeli national team. As an American-Israeli joining a group of players who have grown up together and shared years of basketball experiences, there was initially some uncertainty about how she would fit in. Those concerns have since disappeared.

“Coming in as an American-Israeli to a national team where these players have been together since grade school, there was definitely some nervousness. But everyone makes it feel like a family here. It’s like a high school team and a professional team at the same time, where everybody knows each other’s families and has all these really hilarious stories about one another. It creates such a welcoming and warm environment. I love it. I’m very honored to represent this national team, and I’m lucky that they want me here.”

Meyers has also kept an eye on the next generation of Israeli women’s basketball, particularly following the youth national teams’ impressive summer campaigns. Israel’s U20 squad captured silver behind Gal Raviv, while the U18 team earned promotion to Division A.

Raviv, who has continued to make an impression with her performances in college, is someone Meyers is already familiar with through video highlights, “Oh yeah, she’s a bucket. “I’ve seen so many videos of her just balling out and making some tough shots. She’s crushing it in college. I’ve never met her personally, but I’m definitely a supporter. We’ll see what the future holds and whether we get to play together.”

What makes Abby Meyers tick

On the court, Meyers believes there are three particular qualities she can bring to the national team: her shooting, her energy and her versatility, “People have always said I’m a good shooter, so you’ve got to stick with your strengths. My shot can definitely be dangerous and help spread the defense.

“Second, I’m very passionate about the game, and I hope the energy I bring can be contagious in a positive way. Third, I’d say my size. I’m able to rebound and switch onto fours and fives without being at a disadvantage. But the number one thing is that I love my teammates. I just want them to feel comfortable and happy and I want to treat everyone equally.”

Despite already having several years of professional experience, Meyers is hardly satisfied with where her game currently stands. She believes there are still plenty of areas in which she can improve, from movement without the ball to defensive reads and attacking the basket.

“Everything, honestly. Everything from moving without the ball to putting myself in good positions to knock down shots. Defensively, you can always get better at reading screens. As a bigger body, you can get hit on certain screens, so I definitely want to improve at reading staggered screens. I’d also like to become more physical and attack the basket more. You can always improve in three areas of the game.”

Her advice to young women hoping to build a career in basketball reflects the same mentality that has carried her through college, the WNBA and her European journey, “I would say have an insane amount of positive tenacity. Constantly strive to be better than you are right now, but that doesn’t mean you have to be extremely hard on yourself or beat yourself up after a bad shooting day.
“I always tell myself that just because I shot poorly today doesn’t mean I’m a bad shooter. You have to remember that this is a game you love and play. Whether it goes really well or really badly, it doesn’t change who you are as a person or your identity. Work really hard and become obsessed with different aspects of the game. Watch professional players like Kyrie Irving, Steph Curry or Klay Thompson and study how they get their shots off. Try to find ways to get an edge and create advantages for yourself.”

A dream beyond basketball

While basketball has taken Meyers around the world and provided her with opportunities she could only have imagined growing up, she also recognizes that there is a life beyond the court. Asked about her biggest dream, whether in basketball or in life more generally, Meyers offered an answer that reflected just how much she values the relationships and sense of community that come with being part of a team.

“One of the things I love about being on a team is that you get to talk to 12 different individuals about their dreams and passions after basketball and outside of basketball. It’s something I think about regularly, but my big dream is to find a place that I love, where I feel as comfortable and where I can thrive just as much as I’ve found within basketball. I don’t necessarily know what kind of job or atmosphere that will be, but I definitely want to replicate something like basketball.”

For now, however, Meyers’ focus remains firmly on the blue-and-white. With Poland, Turkey and Montenegro awaiting Israel in a demanding November window, her experience, shooting and leadership will be important as Haelion’s squad looks to build on its perfect start. For a player who has found both professional success and a genuine sense of belonging in Israel, the opportunity to help the country reach EuroBasket would be another meaningful milestone in an already remarkable journey.