ISTANBUL (EuroBasket Women/FIBA World Championship for Women) - There is no shortage of confidence for the Turkish national team that is getting ready for the EuroBasket Women.
In the last couple of years, the Turks have turned into one of the powerhouses in the sport, capturing silver at the EuroBasket in Poland in 2011 and then reaching the Quarter-Finals of last summer's Olympics.
Turkey will arrive at the EuroBasket Women in France having climbed eight spots in the FIBA Ranking Women to No. 13.
They'll be looking to reach the podium again before hosting next year's 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women.
At the EuroBasket Women, which tips off 15 June in France, Turkey will play in Group A against Ukraine, Montenegro and the Slovak Republic.
Their opener is against the Ukrainians.
"We are going to the tournament full of ambition," said veteran sharpshooter Saziye Ivegin, a player on the books of Galatasaray.
"We want to play in the Final again and this time, return home as champions."
Turkey's preliminary squad is stepping up its preparations in Istanbul under coach Cehun Yildizoglu.
Among the youngsters who look certain to make an impact in the national team in years to come is Olcay Cakir, a reserve in the Fenerbahce side that captured the Turkish League titles the past two years.
Cakir, a 1.82m point guard, was selected with the 27th pick in the 2013 WNBA Draft recently by the New York Liberty.
