Final Four Profile: Dynamo Kursk
SOPRON (EuroLeague Women) - Our last Final Four profile is of reigning champions Dynamo Kursk who are looking to defend their crown and post an astonishing second unbeaten season.
History: The Russian powerhouse won their maiden title in 2017 and will arrive in Sopron looking to defend their crown – something no other club has done in the competition since Sparta&K M.R. Vidnoje back in 2009 and 2010. Kursk have only played in EuroLeague Women for four seasons, but have managed to reach the Final Four three times. They also won EuroCup Women in 2012.
Regular Season Record: Kursk finished the Regular Season as the only unbeaten team in the competition, winning all 14 of their games – repeating their perfect 2017 Regular Season run.
Quarter-Final Results: The Russians were paired with Italian side Famila Schio and had to work hard to take a 2-0 series win. They were victorious 73-61 at home and then came from behind in the second-half to wrap things up 73-60 on the road.
Key Player: Sonja Petrovic was the Regular Season MVP and whether she is in the small forward or power forward slot, the Serbian ace is a major threat. She was not part of the title-winning team last year, having joined the club during the summer. Petrovic is recognized as one of the best female players in the world and will be determined to add a EuroLeague Women crown to her resume.
Why they can win it: Along with the renowned forward play of Petrovic, Dynamo Kursk retained the services of their 2017 Final Four MVP, Angel McCoughtry and she always seems to come alive during crunch time in this competition. Epiphanny Prince will pull the strings and try to service a forward line that boasts real quality in Nneka Ogwumike, teenage phenomenon Maria Vadeeva and French center, Helena Ciak. Perhaps the biggest reason Kursk could prevail is because of their head coach, Lucas Mondelo. Everything the revered Spanish play-caller touches for club and country seems to always turn to gold or silverware – as he proved last year.
Trivia: Dynamo Kursk are unbeaten in EuroLeague Women under Coach Mondelo and head into this Final Four on a 34-game winning streak in the competition.
Fast Facts:
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Dynamo Kursk will try to retain their title for a second year in a row, a first time since Sparta&k Moscow and their four titles in a row between 2007 and 2010.
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Dynamo Kursk and UMMC Ekaterinburg have already faced each other three times in EuroLeague Women, all during the 2014-15 edition. While Kursk won the two group games, they lost their meeting in the Semi-Final by 70-81.
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Dynamo Kursk have averaged more rebounds per game than any team at 41.3 per game.
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Sonja Petrovic (56.1%) is the most accurate player from behind the arc this season in the tournament.
FIBA
