Moore return, Batkovic at BLMA and Connecticut duo doing it for Nadezhda headline top 10 talking points
MUNICH (EuroLeague Women) - The return of Maya Moore, Opals leged Suzy Batkovic joining Montpeller and both Brionna Jones and Alex Bentley shining for Nadezhda headlined our top 10 talking points on the penultimate week of the Regular Season.
1. Maya Moore finally makes her debut
We have waited several weeks since UMMC announced the WNBA star was coming back to the competition, but we have waited even longer to see her on the floor. Almost six years in fact. It was like she had never been away since she won the title with Ros Casares in 2012, scoring a smart 15 points and looking ominously capable of leading UMMC to the top of the podium.
2. Alex Bentley finally getting onto a EuroLeague Women floor
Must be the longest wait for a @EuroLeagueWomen debut in history but after 12 weeks on the sidelines injured, @ConnecticutSun star Alex Bentley is on the floor in the competition for @PBC_Nadezhda and just hit a big 3⃣ 🙌 #EuroLeagueWomen pic.twitter.com/WGk2GGM32h
— Paul Nilsen (@basketmedia365) January 24, 2018
Yes, Moore wasn't the only debutante, although in the case of Bentley, this was her very first game ever in the competition. It was worth the wait as she played tough and shot well in limited minutes. If Nadezhda make EuroCup Women, they could be a major threat.
3. Brionna Jones shooting the lights out
.@_BJones18 posted one of the 🔝 shooting displays of the #EuroLeagueWomen season as she went for 10 of 11 FG for @PBC_Nadezhda 🔥🔥!@ConnecticutSun @umdwbb pic.twitter.com/pik0dRgxAA
— EuroLeague Women (@EuroLeagueWomen) January 25, 2018
That is a staggering effort from Jones who I am pleased to have featured 24 hours prior to this game in my FIBA Column showcasing five unsung heroes. I also bet that former Nadezhda play-caller Maros Kovacik was watching on ruefully from China where he is now coaching, wondering what might have been, had Bentley been alongside her Connecticut Sun colleague Jones all season and not injured!
4. Suzy Batkovic joining BLMA
This will be like eating candy with the wrappers still on... The ultimate bitter sweet as @TownsvilleFire @WNBL @BasketballAus @FIBA legend @SuzyBatkovic signs for @BasketLMA 👏👏...but too late to star in @EuroLeagueWomen 😭 #EuroLeagueWomen .Great boost for @basketlfb though 👍 pic.twitter.com/0Thuw2CuvK
— Paul Nilsen (@basketmedia365) January 26, 2018
Yes, too late to have any impact in EuroLeague Women, or EuroCup Women for that matter, with BLMA slumping again. It is a real missed opportunity, although great to have Batkovic in Europe and she was busy in recent months anyway - winning her staggering sixth WNBL MVP title. It is also good for French basketball and nice to have a great of the women's game playing her ball on our Continent.
5. Sopron's sizzling season and great support
It is incredible that Sopron Basket are moving from strength-to-strength by not only making the Quarter-Finals, but also sealing second spot and home advantage in the post-season. The best part though? Seeing their fans travelling in numbers and sharing this special time with the players and staff!
6. Bourges completing their season turnaround
Throughout the season, Bourges and their head coach Olivier Lafargue have received some criticism for me in the wake of their awful start to the season. But, they have forced my words back down my throat by making the Quarter-Finals and I am very pleased for them. Congratulations for going 6-1 in the last 7 games, especially to the Bourges management for keeping the faith with Coach Lafargue in those testing first few months.
7. Schio showing their love for Coach Mendez
Vaya fotaza... pic.twitter.com/qkFZlUizO2
— Darío Méndez (@damonmaluenda) January 26, 2018
Back in EuroLeague Women and in his first game at the helm of UMMC, fate dictated that Miguel Mendez would head back to his ex-employers Famila Schio. He received a lot of love and understandably so. Harshly released during his reign, he is well respected and that is evidenced by the fact Ekaterinburg moved for him. Plus, he played Raisa Musina early and that said a lot. Why can't she be like Maria Vadeeva at Kursk? That would be my thinking too.
8. Those rumors about Breanna Stewart arriving in Europe in coming months
May be fake news (like how she was 100% to Kursk), but she may be the missing piece of the puzzle for @Fenerbahce who have still never won @EuroLeagueWomen - rumor @bre_stewart30 could have agreed a deal. One of the players I had wanted in #EuroLeagueWomen https://t.co/MPBHwIUoYY pic.twitter.com/ZX0RtWM8re
— Paul Nilsen (@basketmedia365) January 25, 2018
I really do hope she does end up in EuroLeague Women one day. Whether that is when she has finished winning more silverware in China, or only in future seasons, I have no idea. But just the mere prospect is so exciting! So, forgive me if this is deemed to be perpetuating nothing more than gossip!
9. Individual Performance of the Week for Alysha Clark
.@Alysha_Clark was simply too much to handle for Castors Braine, as she led all scorers with 2⃣8⃣ pts in @CCC_Polkowice's win! #EuroLeagueWomen@WNBA @SeattleStorm pic.twitter.com/RHzwmZhDH3
— EuroLeague Women (@EuroLeagueWomen) January 25, 2018
I have to had it to Brionna Jones for her magnificent 10-of-11, but just watching some of those moves by Clark was exhilarating! Such a high-octane and do-it-all player for Polkowice - and Israel!
10. Team Performance of the Week going to Nadezhda
.@SYgueravide13 keeps it real 💯!
— EuroLeague Women (@EuroLeagueWomen) January 24, 2018
📝 https://t.co/xJTfkiTOzQ pic.twitter.com/ILsHCWACiA
It was a must-win game for the Russian side and they were simply stunning for 30 minutes of their 89-78 win against Perfumerias Avenida. I had never envisaged that hard-nosed Avenida team having almost 90 points dropped on them!
All of our talking points are selected by our women's basketball specialist Paul Nilsen. You can follow him @basketmedia365
FIBA
