'There was a lot of outside drama': Temi Fagbenle opens up on WNBA tension with Caitlin Clark while leading Great Britain at EuroBasket
Not every basketball journey starts with a dream. For Temi Fagbenle, it began quietly—just a shy teenager growing up in London, more into tennis than basketball. But somehow, years later, she found herself not just in the WNBA but leading the Great Britain women's national team as captain.
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From Harvard classrooms to WNBA locker rooms, from quiet sidelines to loud team huddles—her journey hasn't been easy or expected. And now, during EuroBasket 2025, she's once again showing why she remains one of the most important names in British basketball.
Temi Fagbenle leads Great Britain with experience from WNBA and EuroBasket 2025
Temi Fagbenle is playing a key role for Team Great Britain during the ongoing EuroBasket 2025, which began earlier this month across Germany. Standing 6-foot-4, she plays center and brings WNBA-level talent to a team that includes semi-pro and amateur players.
She helped Great Britain make a surprising run to the EuroBasket 2019 semi-finals, and now she's back, hoping to repeat history.
On June 16, GB lost 85-70 to four-time champions Spain in their opening Group D game, held in Hamburg. But Temi Fagbenle remains hopeful. 'I feel great about our chances,' she said in a team interview.
'Anyone can be beaten. It's about toughness and grit.'
She's played in both the WNBA and across Europe, giving her a clear view of how different leagues work.
'In Europe, I can stay in the paint longer,'
she said, laughing, talking about the different rules in place.
Temi Fagbenle on playing with Caitlin Clark and embracing the sixth woman role
In 2024, Temi Fagbenle played for the Indiana Fever alongside Caitlin Clark, the No 1 overall WNBA draft pick. It was a season full of headlines and pressure. 'There was a lot of outside drama,' she admitted, 'but Caitlin handled it with grace.'
Now, at age 32, she joins the Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA's new expansion team. Every player was picked as a sixth woman, first off the bench. 'People think we'll lose a lot,' she said. 'They don't understand. We're ready.'
Temi Fagbenle once struggled to speak up. Now, she's known for her voice. 'All of a sudden I'm the talker,' she says with a smile.
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