Having missed the 2023 edition, Sweden returned to the top table of European women's basketball as one of four outsiders drawn from pot four in the 16-team tournament, which is being held across four nations, including Germany, where all Group D matches were played in Hamburg.
Against the hosts first up, Sweden were spearheaded by the San Antonio Stars' Frida Eldebrink, who scored 22 points, but that wouldn't be enough to stop them from falling to an 89-76 defeat.
Needing a win in their second match, the Blagult delivered against Great Britain - this time Klara Lundqvist led the side in scoring, assists and rebounds, taking her side to a 75-66 victory.
With head-to-head results taking precedence, Sweden knew they must beat Spain in their final game, then hope Great Britain did them a favour against Germany.
Spain were on the brink of advancing, having won their first two matches, but Sweden held their own in the first quarter, which ended 16-16, before the Spaniards began to pull away, taking a 31-23 half-time lead.
But Kevin Taylor-Lundren's side refused to give up their Quarter-final ambitions, as the third quarter finished level, before Sweden made up the eight points they were trailling in the fourth quarter, tying things up at 64-64.
In overtime, 2023 silver medallists Spain had that extra bit left in the tank, and when Aina Ayuso made it a three-point game with 3.3 seconds to play, Sweden had to score from beyond the arc, but they could not get a shot away in time, giving Spain a 78-75 win.
Lundqvist again dominated for Sweden in attack, scoring game highs of 21 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.
That meant Sweden needed Great Britain needed to beat Germany by 16 points or fewer to send Sweden through in second on points difference, but the hosts ran out 80-67 winners to take their spot in the last eight.
A sixth-placed finish in the 2019 tournament remains Sweden's best finish at EuroBasket Women.