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EuroLeague Women Final preview: Dynamo Kursk v Fenerbahce

EKATERINBURG (EuroLeague Women) - We look forward to what promises to be an exciting and intriguing EuroLeague Women Final as both Dynamo Kursk and Fenerbahce take one last step towards a historic maiden title.

Dynamo Kursk have already made history by reaching the Final for the very first time and they're not only looking to jump onto the top podium step, but also post an astonishing perfect campaign if they manage it. Head coach Lucas Mondelo has yet to taste defeat during his first season with the Russian side and they could be crowned champions with an 18-0 record.

Fenerbahce will be hoping this is third time lucky, as it is not only their third EuroLeague Women Final, but the third time they have entered the showpiece game at the DIVS Arena. They lost to UMMC in 2013 and then to bitter rivals Galatasaray in 2014 on Russian soil.

Previous Meetings: Both clubs know each other from the Regular Season when Dynamo Kursk beat their rivals 72-69 on the road in Istanbul, prior to following it up with an 86-79 success at home. However, Fenerbahce had their former head coach George Dikeoulakos in situ for both games and new play-caller Firat Okul has not faced Dynamo Kursk in the tournament.

Key Match-Up: Candace Parker of Fenerbahce is likely to go up against her USA team-mate Angel McCoughtry in the three-spot and that could be an epic tussle which will go a long way to determining the outcome. Parker was not at her best during the win over UMMC in terms of her shooting, but did a fabulous job on the glass with 15 boards, as well as offering leadership.


McCoughtry poured in 28 points and was the main driving force in digging Kursk out of a worrying hole in the Semi-Finals comeback victory against ZVVZ USK Prague. Meanwhile adding even further spice is that McCoughtry has not yet won EuroLeague Women and is a former Fenerbahce player, who suffered disappointment in their previous Final outings.

Three Points:
- No team has won the EuroLeague Women title without losing a game since Sparta&K M.R. Vidnoje in 2010.
- Lucas Mondelo already has a EuroLeague Women title to his name when he won it with Perfumerias Avenida in 2011 - ironically, at the DIVS Arena in Ekaterinburg.
- Dynamo Kursk have no former EuroLeague Women champions on their roster, while Fenerbahce have ex-winners in Parker and Sandrine Gruda.

What They Say:
"It is going to be really exciting to play against my former team and it will be a lot of fun. It is going to be really interesting as a game and I am hugely excited about it." Dynamo Kursk star, Angel McCoughtry.

"I hope we win the Final and we are all very happy to have beaten UMMC, but there is nothing to celebrate yet. We have been to the Final [twice] before. We will celebrate together if we receive the EuroLeague Women title," Fenerbahce playmaker, Birsel Vardarli Demirmen.

You can watch The Final Four live on www.livebasketball.tv

FIBA