Fenerbahce Alagoz Holding crowned back-to-back EuroLeague Women champions
MERSIN (Türkiye) - Fenerbahce Alagoz Holding celebrated more history in EuroLeague Women, as the reigning champions defended their crown at the Final Four in Mersin to become the first Turkish team to win the competition twice.
The Istanbul giants saw off first-time Finalists Villeneuve d'Ascq LM 106-73 in Sunday's title-decider, having knocked out Final Four hosts Cukurova Basketbol Mersin in the Semi-Finals on Friday.
ŞAMPİYON 💛💙@fbkadinbasket are the first Turkish team to win back-to-back #EuroLeagueWomen titles 🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/Qp82tzlRm9
— EuroLeague Women (@EuroLeagueWomen) April 14, 2024
The trio of Napheesa Collier, Emma Meesseman and Kayla McBride led the way for the champions, as they combined for 72 points.
With a game-high 33 points, Collier flirted with Breann Stewart's all-time Final record but finished with the second-best mark of all time. Meanwhile, Meesseman and McBride chipped in with 22 and 17 points, respectively.
It was the sixth Final appearance for Fenerbahce, who had come up short in the first four tries in 2013, 2014, 2017 and 2022 before lifting the curse in Prague last year.
Having now gone back-to-back, the Turkish club become only the fifth club in the modern era of the competition to achieve the feat, joining CJM Bourges Basket, SCP Ruzomberok, Spart&K Moscow Region and UMMC Ekaterinburg.
After starring in both games at the Final Four, McBride took home the personal accolade of being named the Final Four MVP. She put up 21.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game for an average efficiency of 28.0, while going 7-of-11 from three-point range.
The first French team to reach the Final in 20 years, Villeneuve d'Ascq finished their record-breaking campaign as runners-up. It was a season that saw them reach the Play-Offs for the very first time en route to a maiden Final Four.
Earlier in the day, ZVVZ USK Praha finished the Final Four on a high note, topping the hosts Cukurova 95-67 in the Third-Place Game with the duo of Valeriane Ayayi and Maite Cazorla leading the way with 21 and 19 points, respectively.
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