U14 Slovenia Ball is a place for young athletes to begin their journey into the international scene. Many who have played here in the past 20 years have made it and many more will. What will the next 20 years bring is a question we can’t answer with certainty, but we can make guesses.

For the players from Bulgaria, the future of the tournament looks bright, with one player expecting “better players that will make it professional.” She also has international ambitions of her own, saying, “I see myself being a better person and making it international.” The players from Poland also imagine Slovenia Ball growing in the years ahead. “I think it’s going to be a bigger venue and more teams, but the excitement and the opportunity will stay the same, because it already is a great place to be with your team,” she said. Her own dream is just as simple and meaningful: “I see myself with a good team playing the sport I love and being with friends that I enjoy being with.”

Slovenian player hopes that the sport will reach an even wider audience. “In 20 years, I hope more people will watch women’s basketball,” she said. On the court, she can imagine herself taking her career abroad: “I see myself in a new team, maybe in another country and playing with new teammates.” Croatia also sees a bigger future for Slovenia Ball, with the prediction that “in 20 years this tournament will have a lot more teams and great players.”

For Hungary, however, perhaps the best thing about Slovenia Ball is that some things do not need to change. “I think it will be the same,” the player said, while imagining her own future taking her to Spain: “I see myself in Spain playing basketball and I wish it comes true.” The player from Slovakia also sees a bright future, saying, “They will have a lot of great players and experience.” Her own ambition is clear: “I see myself as a professional basketball player and I will try my best.”

From Bosnia and Herzegovina, one player hopes: “ That there will be more countries and a lot more people watching us play.” When thinking about her own future, however, she already knows exactly which jersey she wants to wear: “I see myself playing for my national team, Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

For Romania, the vision of the tournament 20 years from now is that: “It will look very different, the players will be more athletic and I’m sure they will play with all their hearts,” the player said. Her own ambitions are equally bold: “In 20 years, I see myself playing for the national team of Romania, and I think I will have lots of money in my bank account.”

Whether Slovenia Ball becomes bigger, welcomes more countries and spectators, or simply keeps the same excitement and team spirit it has today, one thing is certain: the players competing now already have big dreams. And perhaps, 20 years from now, we will be looking back at this generation and remembering that some of their journeys began right here.