By 
Can any group in EuroLeague Women stop Fenerbahçe Alagöz Holding?
Fenerbahçe, the Turkish basketball club that got in the 2022-23 EuroLeague Women season as the preferred to win all of it, has actually mostly measured up to expectations, leading the competitors with a 9-2 record. Featuring a definitely stacked lineup with Breanna Stewart, Satou Sabally, Emma Meesseman, Kayla McBride, Alina Iagupova and Kiah Stokes, Fenerbahçe has actually improved and much better as group play has actually gone on, winning its last 4 video games by approximately 42 points.
If that wasn’t enough, Fenerbahçe just recently revealed it had actually signed WNBA record-breaking point player Courtney Vandersloot, who is prepared for to sign up with the club on Feb. 15.
That’s still a number of weeks away, naturally, and the one group in Group A that can still in theory compare versus Fenerbahçe, Czech club ZVVZ USK Praha, will get a shot versus its EuroLeague Women competitor. Led by MVP prospect Alyssa Thomas (18 points, 11.2 rebounds, 6.5 helps and 2.8 takes per video game) and her Connecticut Sun colleague Brionna Jones (16.4 points and 9.7 rebounds per video game), Praha presently sits at 8-3, one video game behind Fenerbahçe in the Group A standings.
The video game, which was tabbed by FIBA as the EuroLeague Women video game of the week, likewise brings a vengeance angle for Praha. Back in Week 5, Praha appeared en path to a crucial triumph, however Fenerbahçe made a huge fourth-quarter run and eventually won the video game in overtime, 82-72.
Granted, Fenerbahçe looked various at that time, with Stewart and Sabally yet to sign up with the group. Still, Praha most likely seems like it considered that video game away, and with little margin for mistake in the race for Group A’s leading total playoff seed, audiences can anticipate Thomas to put the club on her broad shoulders and post another huge stat line versus Fenerbahçe’s well-rounded quality.
You can enjoy Fenerbahçe vs. Praha, along with every other EuroLeague Women video game, live and totally free on FIBA’s EuroLeague Women YouTube channel. Let’s dive into the rest of Week 12’s matches.
Tuesday, January 31
CBK Mersin Yenişehir Bld (7-4) vs. Beretta Famila Schio (8-3)
When: 11 a.m. ET
Where: Servet Tazegül Spor Salonu, Mersin
How to enjoy: FIBA YouTube live stream
Notable gamers: Chelsea Gray, DeWanna Bonner, Tiffany Hayes, Elizabeth Williams (CBK Mersin Yenişehir Bld); Rhyne Howard, Marina Mabrey, Amanda Zahui B., Astou Ndour-Fall, Kim Mestdagh (Beretta Famila Schio)
Matchup information: Mersin keeps plugging away, though it would be tough to argue that the Turkish club has actually reached its complete capacity, having most just recently sustained another close one versus DVTK HUN-Therm. Gray will require to continue her outstanding play (18.4 points and 7 helps per video game) if Mersin is going to equal Schio, which has actually won three-straight video games and is connected with Sopron Basket for Group B’s No. 1 playoff seed. Back in Week 5, Schio eked out a 76-72 win over Mersin, getting rid of an 18-point, 13-rebound video game from Jonquel Jones (no longer with the club) with Ndour-Fall scoring a season-high 21 points.
Atomerőmű KSC Szekszárd (3-8) vs. Tango Bourges Basket (6-5)
When: 12 p.m. ET
Where: Városi Sportcsarnok, Szekszárd
How to enjoy: FIBA YouTube live stream
Notable gamers: Victoria Vivians, Ruthy Hebard, Cyesha Goree, Sydney Wallace (Atomerőmű KSC Szekszárd); Yvonne Anderson, Kayla Alexander (Tango Bourges Basket)
Matchup information: Szekszárd might not have the worst record in EuroLeague Women, however the Hungarian club hasn’t won because mid-December, most just recently dropping a video game to formerly winless Olympiacós. Szekszárd likewise has the worst cumulative point differential in the competitors (-159), with a permeable defense (82.7 points enabled per video game) the primary offender. Bourges will certainly be preferred in this one, however Vivians, who did not bet Szekszárd recently, going back to the lineup might trigger the French club some concerns. As normal, Bourges will count on the playmaking of Anderson and an aggressive defense to force Szekszárd turnovers and produce shift chances.
DVTK HUN-Therm (6-5) vs. Spar Girona (6-5)
When: 12:10 p.m. ET
Where: DVTK Aréna, Miskolc
How to enjoy: FIBA YouTube live stream
Notable gamers: Arella Guirantes, Cheridene Green (DVTK HUN-Therm); Brittney Sykes, Rebekah Gardner, Marianna Tolo, Shay Murphy (Spar Girona)
Matchup information: DVTK has, if absolutely nothing else, a style for the remarkable, almost including Mersin to its list of big-time upsets recently behind 21 points and 8 helps from Guirantes. It was Week 5’s video game versus Girona that initially started DVTK’s climb to significance within Group B, and the 2 clubs have actually entered opposite instructions because. If Girona can get Gardner (shoulder) back from injury, that will definitely be an increase, however the club’s irregular offense (64.9 points per video game) will likely stay a problem regardless. All in all, the even records don’t depend on this case; this video game ought to be among the more competitive ones today, and a win by either club would put them in a far better position to make the playoffs out of Group B.
ZVVZ USK Praha (8-3) vs. Fenerbahçe Alagöz Holding (9-2)
When: 1 p.m. ET
Where: Královka Arena, Prague
How to enjoy: FIBA YouTube live stream
Notable gamers: Alyssa Thomas, Brionna Jones, Maria Conde, Temi Fagbenle, Valériane Vukosavljević (ZVVZ USK Praha); Breanna Stewart, Satou Sabally, Emma Meesseman, Kayla McBride, Alina Iagupova, Kiah Stokes (Fenerbahçe Alagöz Holding)
Matchup information: Whichever method you slice the statistics, these are the 2 finest groups in EuroLeague Women. While both clubs are at the top of the analytical leaderboards in scoring, they’re amongst the very best in the competitors at requiring turnovers, too. It might go without stating, however with neither group having much of a clear analytical edge (conserve, possibly, for Fenerbahçe’s exceptional 3-point shooting), the winner will likely be figured out by which star gamers appear in higher capability. It’s tough not to like Thomas in these sort of video games, however even she hasn’t faced rather the quantity of skill Fenerbahçe will offer in this high-stakes match. If you can just enjoy one EuroLeague Women video game today, ensure it’s this one.
Wednesday, February 1
Basket Landes (2-9) vs. Kangoeroes Mechelen (1-10)
When: 1:30 p.m. ET
Where: Espace François-Mitterrand, Mont-de-Marsan
How to enjoy: FIBA YouTube live stream
Notable gamers: Marine Fauthoux, Regan Magarity, Celine Dumerc (Basket Landes); Morgan Bertsch, Lisa Berkani, Ziomara Morrison (Kangoeroes Mechelen)
Matchup information: Is this one of the more amazing matches of the week? Probably not. Both Landes (-105) and Mechelen (-120) have cumulative point differentials listed below -100, and they’re sitting at No. 7 and No. 8, respectively, in Group B. There isn’t a total scarcity of fascinating private matches in this one, however, with Fauthoux and Berkani being 2 of the very best young guards from France. In the frontcourt, both Magarity and Morrison are go-to gamers for their particular groups; Morrison published 21 points and 10 rebounds the last time these 2 clubs fulfilled, which ended in a 76-71 win for Landes.
Valencia Basket Club (7-4) vs. BC Polkowice (7-4)
When: 2 p.m. ET
Where: Pabellón Municipal Fuente de San Luis, Valencia
How to enjoy: FIBA YouTube live stream
Notable gamers: Lauren Cox, Marie Gülich, Raquel Carrera, Leticia Romero, Alba Torrens (Valencia Basket Club); Stephanie Mavunga, Erica Wheeler, Artemis Spanou, Weronika Gajda (BC Polkowice)
Matchup information: While Tuesday’s video game in between Fenerbahçe and Praha will get all of the attention, this match in between Valencia and Polkowice brings almost as much weight as far as the playoffs are worried. The groups are presently ranked at No. 3 and No. 4 in Group A, however Polkowice has actually slipped a bit because its hot start, losing 3 of its last 4, and in fact has an unfavorable cumulative point differential (-13) on the season. That’s no fault of Mavunga (15.5 points and 12.5 rebounds per video game) or Wheeler (15.3 points and 7.4 helps per video game), however Polkowice will however require its duo to be at its finest versus Valencia, which leads the competitors in 3-point shooting precision (38.9 percent) by a comfy margin. Valencia and Polkowice played an extremely competitive and amusing video game back in Week 5, with Polkowice ultimately dominating, and there’s no factor not to anticipate a likewise close lead to this rematch.
Virtus Segafredo Bologna (3-8) vs. Olympiacós SFP (1-10)
When: 2:30 p.m. ET
Where: Segafredo Arena, Bologna
How to enjoy: FIBA YouTube live stream
Notable gamers: Cheyenne Parker, Iliana Rupert, Cecilia Zandalasini, Kitija Laksa (Virtus Segafredo Bologna); Megan Gustafson, Kylee Shook (Olympiacós SFP)
Matchup information: The wait is over! Olympiacós is lastly in the win column after beating Szekszárd recently, and has a genuine opportunity at making it 2 in a row today versus a Bologna club that has actually lacked Parker (ankle) since late. This is, naturally, not a match with playoff ramifications, however it’s been a reward to enjoy Gustafson (competition-leading 23.7 points per video game) play this season regardless, and Bologna likewise has 2 of the more amazing global skills in the competitors in Rupert (11.4 points and 7.1 rebounds per video game) and Laksa (15.5 points and 2.8 made 3s per video game). Bologna beat Olympiacós conveniently back in Week 5, however don’t be shocked if things are better this time.
Perfumerias Avenida (6-5) vs. Sopron Basket (8-3)
When: 2:30 p.m. ET
Where: Pabellón Municipal Würzburg, Salamanca
How to enjoy: FIBA YouTube live stream
Notable gamers: Bridget Carleton, Michaela Onyenwere, Maite Cazorla (Perfumerias Avenida); Ezi Magbegor, Yvonne Turner, Jelena Brooks, Olivia Epoupa (Sopron Basket)
Matchup information: Sopron originated from behind to beat Girona recently, getting rid of 19 turnovers and holding its Group B competitor to 33.3 percent shooting. It’s the timeless Sopron design of winning video games, and it has the protecting champs at the top of the Group B standings. Avenida is among the couple of clubs to beat Sopron — the Spanish club made a 75-53 triumph back in Week 5, thanks to 11 made 3-pointers — however has actually deciphered ever since and is now among a handful of groups defending the group’s last playoff seed. Needless to state, a win here would be massive for Avenida, both in the standings and for the club’s own momentum.
Comments