KAUNAS (EuroCup Women 2017) - The second night of EuroCup Women 2017 action will have history running through its veins, with no fewer than four clubs making their first-ever appearances in the Regular Season.

Two of them will engage in battle in Kaunas as surprise 2016 Lithuanian champions Hoptrans-Sirenos face VBW CEKK Cegled in what is a fascinating Group A clash. It’s the visitors who have already made their mark on this season, since they had to negotiate the Qualifiers and did so with real gusto behind some brilliant displays from Nora Nagy-Bujdoso and Maja Skoric. As for the home side, they will be relying heavily on new American forward Tori Jarosz, while many people are looking forward to seeing the exciting rising star Dalia Belickaite scoring and creating from the backcourt and wings.

Another first-timer in MBA Moscow will look for a winning start in Group B against PEAC-Pecs as their all-Russian roster looks to get it done and cause some upsets.

Anna Leshkovtseva and Olga Gorbacheva are likely to be their main drivers in the hunt for a maiden win, although the team is looking to pick itself up from a 0-3 start in the Russian Premier League. PEAC-Pecs made it through the Qualifiers and will be propelled by the powerful Jessica Kuster.

The biggest tie of the night and arguably of the opening week of EuroCup Women 2017 will see two of the most ambitious sides in Europe go up against each other in Athens. Olympiacos have mirrored their opponents Yakin Dogu Universitesi in racking up a wealth of big name summer signings and this Group D game will have a number of well-known faces going up against each other.

Olympiacos have players who know Turkish basketball well in Lynetta Kizer, Evanthia Maltsi and the recently-signed Zoi Dimitrakou, while the visitors have one of the most in-form players around in Angelica Robinson who was a colossus in the Qualifiers earlier this month.

The other two games will see a pair of French teams who also had to pass through the Qualifiers playing on their respective home courts.

In Group E, Nantes Reze will take on Basketball Nymburk and no doubt look for Katherine Plouffe to keep putting up some highly productive numbers, while Flammes Carolo Basket will welcome Swedish outfit Umea Udominate who are currently a flawless 6-0 in Damligan. Although they will appreciate their outing in Charleville-Mezieres, it is likely going to require a step up in all facets of their game.

FIBA