American-born guard-forward Abby Meyers, nicknamed “The Jewish Jordan,” will make her debut Wednesday for Israel’s women’s national basketball team in an away game against Bosnia and Herzegovina, opening the EuroBasket 2027 qualifying campaign.
The 26-year-old, who recently received Israeli citizenship, joined the team after a breakout season with Maccabi Bnot Ashdod, where she led the club to a historic triple crown — the league championship, State Cup and Winner Cup — and was named league MVP. She averaged 17.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game while shooting 43.7 percent from beyond the arc.
“She brings tremendous energy and commitment,” said national coach Shira HaLevyon, also making her debut. “She can be the glue that connects everyone, but basketball is a team game.”
Israel’s qualifying group also includes Luxembourg and Ireland. The top two teams, plus the three best third-place finishers across all groups, will advance to the next stage toward the 2027 European Championship.
Meyers, a 1.85-meter Princeton and Maryland alumna, was selected 11th overall in the 2023 WNBA draft by the Dallas Wings. After brief stints with the Washington Mystics and London Lions, with whom she won the EuroCup, she signed this summer with Spain’s Perfumerías Avenida, one of Europe’s premier clubs.
Raised in Potomac, Maryland, Meyers grew up in a Jewish household and attended Washington Hebrew Congregation. “Celebrating the holidays with family and community has always been a big part of who I am,” she said.
Meyers came to Israel last season even during the war in Gaza, when many foreign players chose to stay away. “My family was worried because of how things looked in the news,” she said, “but I felt safe in Ashdod, even if we had to go to shelters sometimes.”
After a summer hiking trip in the Himalayas, Meyers now embarks on another journey — representing Israel on the continental stage, where she hopes to add more victories to an already decorated career.