SOPRON (EuroLeague Women) – The 2018 Final Four is upon us and it's prediction time for our panel of four women's basketball experts who can't wait for the action to tip-off.

Nantes Reze guard, Shona Thorbun is an Olympian and commentator for LiveBasketball.tv You can follow her @ShonaThorburn

- UMMC Ekaterinburg will win it because they are playing at a different level since the arrival of Maya Moore. A 40-point win over Dynamo Kursk less than a month ago is proof of how good they really are.

- Sorry, but not this time for Sopron Basket, since I just can't see them pulling off two big upsets in a row. Home court advantage just won't be enough for a young team with less firepower than their rivals.

- The MVP has got to be Maya Moore, she has zero gaps in her game. She can do it all! I don't believe anyone will be able to guard her and she just makes everyone around her better. Welcome back to EuroLeague Women, Maya.

- Tune in to watch Courtney Vandersloot, the best point guard in the game right now! She has the ability to score, but it's her eye-popping passes and ability to create that sets her apart. She has 9.3 assists per game - enough said!

- This might be the best Final Four ever. Any of these teams could have won in recent years with how much talent they have, but only one will be crowned as 2018 champions. Tune in and you won’t be disappointed. It's insane how talented these four teams are and it's like an All-Star Team against another All-Star Team.

Pierre Ploszajski was a contributor to the FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017 Media Guide and writes for BlueStarMedia. You can follow him @pierrepiotr_

- Dynamo Kursk will win it even though it is hard to back against a UMMC team. Kursk face the great challenge of being the first team to do the repeat since Sparta&K M.R. Vidnoje across 2007-10. But, Anna Cruz is back from injury, they are flawless across consecutive Regular Seasons, have the reigning Final Four MVP in Angel McCoughtry, the Regular Season MVP in Sonja Petrovic, a stable and well-constructed roster and a title-magnet in coach Lucas Mondelo. They can do it.

- Sorry, but not this time, Sopron Basket. As much as we would all love them to complete the fairy tale on their home court, I can't see them pulling off two big upsets in one weekend – actually, not even one. The competition is full of surprises, so nothing is impossible, but a lack of bench depth will eventually tell. Count on local fans and their big hearts to prove me wrong.

- The MVP has got to be Angel McCoughtry – again! She is such an efficiency machine. If she gets going, it's hard to stop her. Back-to-back MVP titles will go neatly alongside back-to-back titles for her team.

- Tune in to watch Dynamo Kursk and UMMC which is the Final before the Final. It could be one of the games of the year, with so many great matchups including Maya Moore v Angel McCoughry, Alba Torrens v Sonja Petrovic, Brittney Griner v Maria Vadeeva and Emma Meesseman v Nneka Ogwumike.

- It feels like this could be the best Final Four ever. Yes, there's the Sparta&K M.R. Vidnoje and UMMC rivalry from a decade ago which saw two All-Star teams go at each other year after year, but these current rosters are an absolute treat for the fans. There is so much talent and experience. We're in for a great tournament, but how could it be any different?

Brad Gains is a FIBA writer who has covered EuroLeague Women throughout the 2017-18 season and you can follow him @BradHoopsfix

- UMMC Ekaterinburg will win it because they have so many threats all over the court. Forget the traditional 'Big 3', the 2016 champions have four global superstars in Maya Moore, Alba Torrens, Brittney Griner and Emma Meesseman.

- Sorry, but not this time for Sopron Basket. Despite completing one of their best Regular Seasons and being in front of home support, the Hungarian side will be major underdogs. Although it will be a role they relish - as proved by their fight-back in the Quarter-Finals against Fenerbahce.

- The MVP has got to be Alba Torrens. All eyes will be on Maya Moore after making a scintillating return to EuroLeague Women action, but watch out for the Spaniard running the show with an efficient display for UMMC.

- Tune in to watch to see UMMC Ekaterinburg up against Dynamo Kursk. It says a lot about the talent of UMMC's roster to go against a side with a staggering 34-game win streak. But whoever prevails, it should be a fascinating encounter that sets the tone for the Final Four.

- There is going to be so much talent on court and it would be fitting that the final showdown comes down to the last seconds to cap another fantastic season.

Paul Nilsen is a FIBA writer specializing in the female game, including 'Paul Nilsen’s Women’s Basketball Worldwide'. You can follow him @Basketmedia365

- Yakin Dogu Universitesi will win it, because the biggest factor in delivering success is arguably momentum. Yakin Dogu have this more than any other team, in terms of their recent trajectory. They also have the best frontcourt rotation, best point guard on the planet and as a neutral, I would love to see a new name added to the tournament honors board.

- Sorry, but not this time for reigning champions Dynamo Kursk. To go two seasons without losing a single game would be up there with the greatest-ever accomplishments in this competition. It's the first time I have ever backed against Lucas Mondelo, which may be a big mistake, but I am trusting my gut they might fall short.

- The MVP has got to be Sandrine Gruda who can remind us all of her class and produce a double-double in the title game. She's due a headline performance at a major tournament.

- Tune in to watch Courtney Vandersloot who's one of my all-time favorite playmakers, the magnificent combo of Maya Moore and Alba Torrens of UMMC, the exciting young players of Sopron like Angela Salvadores and Debora Dubei, possibly my favorite player of all-time in Sonja Petrovic of Kursk, an incredible lineup of top coaching talent and of course the thrilling unpredictability of the women's game – one of its biggest selling points.

- Believe the hype. This is potentially the best Final Four I can remember. We have three absolute powerhouse clubs pitched in with an underdog playing at home and with some of the best fans ready to cheer them to a dream win. My sense of anticipation has never been higher. Let's do this!

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