MUNICH (Germany) - With a new exciting  EuroLeague Women campaign ready to roll and with all participants having assembled their rosters, it's the perfect time to tip off the Power Rankings.

Taking into account early season domestic performances, the rosters and, of course, the all-important competition system and group draws, here's the opening set of rankings.

1. Fenerbahce Alagoz Holding 

After the heartbreak of last April when they allowed a glorious opportunity for a maiden title to slip through their fingers, Fenerbahce are red-hot favorites this season to finally be crowned champions. They have a world-class coach in Marina Maljkovic and arguably two of the best five players in the world in Breanna Stewart and Emma Meesseman - even if their arrival and participation is not immediate.

Kiah Stokes and Natasha Howard will do the early work in the paint and they just signed Ivana Raca too. Quick footed guard Olivia Epoupa allows Coach Maljkovic to put in her aggressive defense, while Alina Iagupova and Kayla McBride return and are big game ballers. It will be a shock if Fenerbahce don't make the title game again, although they did lose to Botas this past weekend.

2. ZVVZ USK Praha  

There is a whole lot to love about ZVVZ USK Praha heading into this season as they look set to continue being one of the most consistent clubs in the competition. Their return to the 2022 Final Four is looking likely to be matched this season as well. Not only with five-time EuroLeague Women winner Natalia Hejkova on the sidelines, but also big hitters and recently crowned FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup champions Alyssa Thomas and Brionna Jones to lead the way as usual.

Slovenia captain Teja Oblak is a rock in the backcourt, Maria Conde is a class act on the wing and with Praha having brought back Valeriane Vukosavljevic for a second spell, the French star will provide great competition. However, there was a big blow when Dutch center Emese Hof suffered a serious injury during pre-season.

3. CBK Mersin Yenisehir Bld 

This ambitious Turkish club have some continuity with quality ballers like Tiffany Hayes who will bring the big scoring threat from the backcourt and also Great Britain center Temi Fagbenle who is a towering presence in the paint and showed her value last season. 

 

The decision to acquire the services of Briann January looks smart as her hard-nosed veteran play was a foundation for Sopron's historic title win last season. But the big news is that they will surely be frontrunners to make it to Final Four with Jonquel Jones and Chelsea Gray both agreeing moves to the club. Those two are absolute elite at every level and immediately make Mersin serious silverware contenders if the chemistry is good and they can play together consistently at both ends of the floor.

4. Perfumerias Avenida 

After two Spanish league losses (against clubs not expected to be in the top four), this is the most generous ranking by far in this list. But is there a justifiable case to still make Avenida the potential 'best of the rest' in EuroLeague Women - assuming Fenerbahce, Mersin and Praha are the Final Four frontrunners?

Head coach Roberto Iniguez usually finds a way to deliver.

 

Veteran guard Silvia Dominguez is back along with fellow Spaniards Maite Cazorla, Leo Rodriguez and Andrea Vilaro. Meanwhile Jovana Nogic has showed she can produce with the Serbia national team and Moriah Jefferson will use her quickness to great impact. Collectively, this is a lot of intensity. Julia Reisengerova, Maria Fasoula and Erica McCall will get through the work in the paint, while Aleksandra Crvendakic on the wing could be the key baller. They have depth, but do they have the top quality needed?

5. Virtus Segafredo Bologna   

The ambitious Italian club will have a tremendous battle this year domestically with powerhouse rivals Schio and could find themselves out-achieving their rivals in what is their maiden EuroLeague Women campaign. With Italian leader Cecilia Zandalasini and free-scoring Croatian star Ivana Dojkic they have a duo capable of winning any game.

 

The signing of last year's EuroCup Women Final Four MVP Iliana Rupert also looks exciting, as is Cheyenne Parker who is an anchor in the paint. Olbis Andre and Sabrina Cinili add more frontcourt depth, while Kitija Laksa on the wing has posted big shows in this competition. Beatrice Del Pero and Alessandra Orsili are guards with big potential and overall, Bologna fans will be feeling excited.

6. Tango Bourges Basket 

What a week it's been for the reigning EuroCup Women winners. Firstly they locked down EuroLeague Women champions Sopron Basket at Le Prado in front of their triumphant fans to win a first ever SuperCup Women title and then followed it up this past weekend by winning the French Cup of Champions against Basket Landes. 

The three main drivers across both games were the strength inside of Canadian Kayla Alexander and Latvian powerhouse Anete Steinberga, with both looking ideal for the Bourges identity of tough defense and physical approach. Meanwhile Laetitia Guapo and Pauline Astier are growing in stature in the backcourt and along with Yvonne Anderson and Sarah Michel, they present a rock solid offering. It's a very strong and confident start to the new season, but can they continue the momentum?

7. Sopron Basket   

When Sopron were shut out in the SuperCup Women Final, winning that first ever EuroLeague Women title back in April suddenly felt like a long time ago. It also made everyone think how different their prospects for the season might be if the club not had to reverse a decision to sign Courtney Vandersloot as their playmaker because of cost pressures. 

But despite their poor show on French soil, they should still recover and make the top eight. They've a classy coach in David Gaspar, veteran quality in Jelena Brooks and Zsofia Fegyverneky, plus one of the most exciting centers in the global game in new signing Ezi Magbegor. Meanwhile Dragana Stankovic adds even more shot blocking power, but much will hinge on Brittney Sykes and Alice Kunek who feel like the 'X-Factor' players this year. If they do well, Sopron should be ok, if they don't, it could be more of a struggle.

8. Beretta Famila Schio  

Schio could be a real threat this year with an eclectic mix of youth and experience. The signing of Astou Ndour from archrivals Reyer Venezia looks important, while incoming USA star Rhyne Howard gives the Italians a rookie ready to make a big splash. Marina Mabrey brings a scoring and creative touch, while returning duo Kim Mestdagh and Giorgia Sottana have vast experience and quality.

Amanda Zahui played at Final Four last year with Fenerbahce and her energy will lift the team, while Jasmine Keys is getting better with every season. Throw in Slovenian teenage ace Ajsa Sivka and there is a lot to love about this team and if the chemistry is good, then they can make another deep run. Georgios Dikaioulakos has a proven track record and defensively they'll be a tough nut to crack.

9. Valencia Basket Club 

It's been an injury-hit start for Valencia BC who have lost a number of big hitters, including the returning Cristina Ouvina and also Bec Allen who somehow played with a cracked rib in the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 Third-Place Game. Marquee summer signing Alba Torrens has also missed out in games and been sidelined, so this false start has felt a little frustrating.

 

If they all return to the floor, surely Valencia will rise up the Power Rankings, otherwise there is a lot of responsibility on German forward Marie Guelich, plus the Spanish core of Queralt Casas, Leticia Romero, Angela Salvadores - as well as the brilliant young guns Raquel Carrera and Awa Fam Thiam. Meanwhile the signing of American Lauren Cox seems to be a real coup.

10. Spar Girona 

It was a tight squeeze and nervous time in the Qualifiers for Spar Girona who overturned a 12-point deficit from the first leg to punch their ticket to the Regular Season. Had last season's star Kennedy Burke not got injured for her new team ESBVA and played in the second game, then who knows if they would have made it? But history shows they did it and a roller-coaster campaign lies in wait.

The legendary Laia Palau is the new GM and her unparalleled experience will be vital. Rebekah Gardner looks like a go-to option again; Maria Araujo must rediscover her good pre-injury form; Marianna Tolo is rock solid in the center spot; and there are some other reliable players. But can they find the scoring power and offensive options needed to repeat a historic run to the Quarter-Finals?

11. Basket Landes  

Arguably punching above their weight now for multiple seasons, Basket Landes have the capacity to continue this theme, although maybe making the Quarter-Finals will be just beyond them. The coaching team has done a great job, but if expectations are too high from the club or supporters, it's very much based on Landes being a victim of their own success. Beaten in the domestic Game of Champions Final against Bourges, they showed they will be competitive once again.

They'll be led by Marine Fauthoux who is now a bona fide leader, while other guards include legendary Celine Dumerc, Lidija Turcinovic and Marie-Eva Paget, with athletic rising star Kendra Chery on the wing. Swedish frontcourt ace Regan Magarity and Nigerian Evelyn Akhator add serious presence in the paint, with Kristen Mann and Clarince Djaldi-Tabdi also on board.

12. Olympiacos S.F.P. 

Olympiacos S.F.P. are back for the first time since 2018 and have a stellar performer in the super Megan Gustafson who is a potential double-double in any game.  But they have a lot of their eggs in the Gustafson basket so need a plan B for when she's not firing or in foul trouble. Anna Stamolamprou packs a scoring punch and showed that in the Qualifiers.

Fellow Greek guard Angeliki Nikilopoulou was sensational in the Qualifying Tournament with a stunning 9.5 assists per outing. The experienced Anna Spyridopoulou is always influential, while Digna Strautmane and Aina Aysuo are also ready to offer solid contributions. Coach Martins Zibarts has experience of taking underdogs TTT Riga to a deep run and will be hoping for a repeat.

13. DVTK Hun-Therm 

Their first ever Regular Season could produce some positive results with rookies like Puerto Rico star Arella Guirantes, who had a tremendous FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022. Darcee Garbin won bronze in Sydney and the Opals' forward has already shown her capabilities in a DVTK jersey working in tandem with Great Britain powerhouse Cheridene Green or Montenegro's Milica Jovanovic. Depth might be an issue and their success may hinge on their Hungarian ballers such as Nina Aho and Veronika Kanyasi.

14. BC Polkowice 

It's been a challenging start with centerpiece Steph Mavunga out injured. However, experienced playcaller Yvonne Turner has done great things in EuroLeague Women previously and could be very influential. Scoring power looks questionable, so Slovenian ace Zala Friskovec must really shift up a gear , while Sasa Cadjo also brings a big outside threat. Artemis Spanou is a warrior in the paint and the underrated Weronika Telenga adds another option for a team who will be reliant on rugged defense and discipline to get the job done. 

15. Atomeromu KSC Szekszard  

Their rookie Regular Season turned out to be a nightmare last year as they posted a painful 0-14 record. There appears to be a brighter outlook this time as they look for a historic first win. Agnes Studer will continue pulling the strings, with Cyesha Goree under the hoop and a number of new faces coming in .They include the likes of the free-scoring guard Victoria Vivians who is likely to be their main focal point, along with fellow American Ruthy Hebard who adds strength inside. 

16. Kangoeroes Mechelen 

The Belgian first-timers will clearly be underdogs but may surprise, since they do have some very capable and talented players. They have an anchor in Chile veteran Ziomara Morrison who has put up big numbers in the past, while Morgan Bertsch averaged double-digits in EuroLeague Women at Arka Gdynia last season. Belgian duo Laure Resimont and Heleen Nauwelaers both have experience at the highest level with the Cats, while 16-year-old Kyara Bruyndoncx is a rising star talent and a very young gun to track this season.

Disclaimer: The power rankings are entirely subjective and is in no way a true, accurate ranking systems. All comments are purely those of the author.