MUNICH (Germany) - It promises to be another intense and entertaining roller-coaster campaign as EuroLeague Women comes roaring back into focus.

We've picked out some of the key things you need to know for this next season of this famous and prestigious club competition.

From 19 to 16 to 8 to 4 to 1

As usual, there were Qualifiers played prior to the Regular Season, meaning we started the journey with 19 teams in the mix. We waved goodbye to three clubs in the Qualifiers. The Regular Season will see two groups of eight teams play each other home and away. We will then get narrowed down to the Quarter-Finals which will be a three-game series. The winners of those ties will then step out at Final Four 2020, where the champion will be left standing and clutching the coveted silverware.

UMMC Out To Make More History

Last season, UMMC Ekaterinburg retained their title and won their fifth in total. If they can complete a 'three-peat' by finishing on the top step of the 2020 podium, they will become only the second club in the modern day era to land three consecutive titles. It would also mean they would take the penultimate step towards equaling the famed four in a row that was attained by once bitter domestic rivals Sparta&K M.R. Vidnoje, who won it all between 2007-2010.

Those Off-Season Moves

As always, there have been some stellar names making some big moves during the off-season. You can check out who stayed and who hopped clubs in our player tracker. But what was the biggest move of the summer? Surely Sonja Petrovic heading to Spar Citylift Girona from Dynamo Kursk or Marine Johannes making the switch from Bourges Basket to Lyon ASVEL Feminin and arriving off the back of her debut WNBA campaign with the New York Liberty? Or, what about DeWanna Bonner heading back into Russia, but this time at Dynamo Kursk?

Hall of Famer Hejkova

ZVVZ USK Praha coach Natalia Hejkova heads into the new campaign having been inducted into the prestigious FIBA Hall of Fame. Will she add another impressive line to her incredible resume with some more of her revered coaching work?

Big Name Playcallers Making Switches

There have been some particularly interesting movements in respect of some big name coaches during the off-season. After lifting the EuroCup Women 2019 title with Nadezhda, Victor Lapena (pictured) is now in Istanbul and trying to get Fenerbahce back on track. They are currently staring down the barrel of the unthinkable prospect of missing a third Final Four in a row if they don't make it again. Replacing him in Orenburg is Greek playcaller George Dikeoulakos, who goes back to his former club. Another ex-employee of Nadezhda in the shape of Roberto Iniguez is also back in Russia after he picked up the reins of Dynamo Kursk. He takes over from his compatriot Lucas Mondelo, who pushes the pause button on his illustrious EuroLeague Women career to try to deliver success in Japan.

Still in search of Final Four

Perhaps it shows just how special it actually is to play at the end of season Final Four, since many of the biggest names in women's hoops are still waiting to take their bow at the event. These include the likes of Fenerbahce duo Cecilia Zandalsini and Alina Iagupova, as well as Lyon pair Marine Johannes and Julie Allemand. Who else would be on your list of the best players on the planet that are still to feature at a Final Four?

Some Stats To Beat

Let's be honest, Breanna Stewart of Dynamo Kursk was the dominant figure in last year's competition by some distance, until she ruptured her Achilles during last year's title game for Dynamo Kursk. She racked up the highest individual score of the season with 33 points. Other high-tide marks last year that we will be looking for players to beat in 2019-20 were 14 assists for Amel Bouderra of Carolo Basket, 17 rebounds for Alysha Clark of ZVVZ USK Praha and Celeste Trahan-Davis of Castors Braine. There was also a team-high score of 103 points for UMMC in one of their games. If you push the rewind button a little further back, will anybody be able to beat the 39 points scored in a 2016-17 game by Candice Dupree? Plus, surely the 28 rebounds taken in a game by Courtney Paris will never be beaten? Other numbers to look out for is the number in the loss column. Is this the year when runaway favorites and defending champions will repeat the feat of Dynamo Kursk in 2016-17 when they went unbeaten for the entire season?

The magic of Palau

We all thought the legendary point guard had retired a couple of seasons ago from EuroLeague Women. Then we thought she might end her career on a high at Spar Citylift Girona in her homeland, where she won the Liga Femenina title last season. But, get the popcorn ready, because one of the greatest ever EuroLeague Women players in history is ready to entertain you once again.  

A second chance of success in EuroCup Women

Once again, some of those clubs disappointed at not making the EuroLeague Women post-season will get a second chance of success, by being handed a ticket to the latter stages of EuroCup Women. That is exactly what happened last season with Nadezhda, who grabbed their opportunity with both hands and eventually beat BLMA to deliver a historic maiden EuroCup Women title. So, make sure you also keep a close eye on what is happening in EuroCup Women throughout 2019-20. 

No more sweet Vardarli Demirmen assists

The one cloud to the many silver linings we have outlined above heading into this new season, is that we sadly won't be able to enjoy Turkish and Fenerbahce legend Birsel Vardarli Demirmen stuffing the highlights reel any more. One of the most entertaining and talented guards the competition has ever seen, she announced her retirement during the off-season. The guard finished her EuroLeague Women career with an amazing 820 assists, with only three other players handing out more on the All-Time list. Thanks for the memories and some outstanding highlights and achievements in this competition Birsel!

FIBA