NEWCASTLE (Paul Nilsen's Women's Basketball Worldwide) - With an exceptional FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup grabbing our attention recently, the build-up to EuroLeague Women has probably suffered a little.

So, to prepare you for the 2018-19 campaign which starts this week, here are my eight things that you might have missed in these past months.

UMMC assemble their best ever roster

 
Everyone is asking the question. It's been a busy off-season for the reigning champions. They looked awesome once Miguel Mendez picked up the coaching reins mid-season last year, so how could they improve after conquering Final Four in Sopron? Well, they decided to go and get three of my favorite EuroLeague Women players of these last few years. They inked last season's leading scorer Kayla McBride, the best playmaker in the tournament in Courtney Vandersloot and the phenomenal 20-year-old Maria Vadeeva. They also signed Jonquel Jones as well, which is going to be a thrill. Put all that together with their existing talent and I believe this could actually be their best ever team. Not only that, with the super Mendez in charge, they will play an upbeat and entertaining style too. You can VOTE HERE on how good they could be. 

 Olympiacos and Carolo Basket will debut

It was a close-run thing, but Greek club Olympiacos have finally achieved their dream of playing in the Regular Season of the competition after pipping Wisla CANPACK in the recent Qualifiers. It could turn out to be a struggle as they don't look exactly stacked, but it is another positive statement for women's basketball in Greece - coming alongside Niki Lefkadas making the EuroCup Women Regular Season for the first ever time. Meanwhile after several seasons in EuroCup Women, we will welcome Carolo Basket to EuroLeague Women. I find it difficult to predict how they will do, since they actually have some very nice players, are obviously playing in a high quality domestic league and so wit a good start, they could potentially make a splash.

No more Yakin Dogu Universitesi

While we welcome some new faces to the Regular Season, there is a tinge of sadness after the demise of Yakin Dogu Universitesi. Their rapid rise to prominence resulted in them winning EuroCup Women, establishing themselves as a powerhouse in Turkey with a stack of silverware, while also riding to EuroLeague Women Final Four last season. We all thought that Russian juggernauts UMMC and Dynamo Kursk might have a thorn in their side. Instead, and rather regrettably, Yakin Dogu no longer exist after their backers opted to shut down all basketball operations.

Yes, Breanna Stewart is suiting up for the first time

'Stewie' has taken her time, but will finally add EuroLeague Women to her sparkling resume. Dynamo Kursk have landed arguably the best player to have not yet played in the competition. I have waited so long for this and the versatile star arrives with her 2018 'swag bag' containing a WNBA Championship ring, a #FIBAWWC gold medal, the WNBA MVP accolade, the WNBA Finals MVP gong and the #FIBAWWC MVP honor. No more words necessary! Well - except reminding everyone that she dropped 40 points on that debut last weekend.

Parker - Now you see her, now you don't

 
Just as I was thinking about how Dynamo Kursk head coach Lucas Mondelo would set-up his team and play Breanna Stewart, Sonja Petrovic and Candace Parker would all play together, we found out in this past week that the Parker deal has collapsed. That is a real pity for the competition and for Kursk, since  what a trio that would have been! The club are currently looking to sign another superstar in her place. Watch this space. Of course ironically, you can actually see Candace more than ever due to her flourishing media career.

A baby boom!

 
Several high-profile stars will be missing this season as they are on maternity leave and I am sure you will all join me in offering our best wishes to the likes of Jelena Milovanovic and Isabelle Yacoubou as they prepare to enter a special new chapter in their lives!

Zandalasini - right move or wrong move?

 
Of all the summer moves, perhaps Italian sensation moving away from Famila Schio is the biggest transfer from those players who were already established in the competition. Her incredible firepower will now be harnessed by Fenerbahce, who will be hoping she can fire them back to Final Four after missing out on the 2018 season finale for the first time in memory. I have my doubts as to how much of a good fit this could be - something which is no reflection on Zandalasini herself. Just that I was thinking a more free-flowing style would have been better for her p somewhere that let's her shoot the ball more freely. However, she has moved from one defensively-orientated team to another. I love Zandalasini like most fans as she is so exciting and talented, so I hope I am wrong. 

We have got power rankings this season!

The weekly Power Rankings is a new feature each week and so let us know your views across all social channels using #EuroLeagueWomen and/or contact my @basketmedia365 on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

Paul Nilsen

FIBA

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