Team Profile: Nadezhda Orenburg
ORENBURG (EuroLeague Women 2017) – We take a trip to Russia to cast our eye over last year's Finalists Nadezhda Orenburg who will be hoping they can replicate the same kind of amazing run when they step out for EuroLeague Women 2017.
Last season: It was a fabulous, historic and memorable season for Nadezhda as they reached the Final Four of the competition for the first time and then broke Fenerbahce hearts in Istanbul by pipping the hosts for a place in the Final. Then, they almost pulled off a fairytale before only just going down to UMMC in the title game.
Roster: It's an interesting mix for Nadezhda after all of their biggest hitters left during the summer including DeWanna Bonner, Kayla McBride, Angelica Robinson, Elena Kirillova and Anna Cruz, which underlines how much work needs to be undertaken to mould a new winning team. Critically, there are a number of players who are coming back on board and namely the Russian core which will help add some stability. Natalia Anoikina posted some breakout displays after re-awakening from her time on the bench at UMMC the season before, while Zhosselina Maiga continues her development from youth star to senior contributor.
The backcourt will welcome back shooter Natalia Zhedik and the evergreen Elena Beglova – as well as Anastasiya Shilova on the wing. The big-name arrivals looking to pick up the baton of success are Spanish point guard Cristina Ouvina, who will operate with Tiffany Mitchell in her first pro-season outside of the States – fresh off the back of a WNBA debut with the Indiana Fever. There will be an all-WNBA frontcourt combo in the paint as Elizabeth Williams of the Atlanta Dream and Sweden national team star Amanda Zahui team-up as EuroLeague Women rookies. There’s also space for Russian pair Tatiana Petrushina who comes via Chevakata and Liudmila Sapova who was at Dynamo Kursk.
Key player: Williams provides a real rock for the team to operate around and is always the kind of player who can post double-doubles which provide the foundation for victory. She is also key defensively in terms of matching up in the paint and knows the European scene already from big numbers with Istanbul Universitesi in EuroCup Women last season.
‘X-Factor’: The appointment of Ouvina is an intriguing one as she takes over from her compatriot Anna Cruz to play for another Spaniard in head coach Roberto Iniguez. They will be big shoes to fill and how she shines will have a major impact on Nadezhda’s hopes – even if she does not necessarily start all games. A tenacious defender who has spent several years fighting in a gutsy Wisla Can-Pack team, her attributes will be welcomed and especially with Mitchell having not played in the competition previously.
Stat attack: Last season was Nadezhda’s best-ever in the competition and they made their run to the Final with an impressive 12 victories to their name. Meanwhile, this is their seventh straight season competing in EuroLeague Women.
Social media stars: Give Amanda Zahui [amandazahuib] and Natalia Anoikina [Natali_33] a try on Instagram.
Outlook: With one of the great EuroLeague Women coaches of the modern era in Coach Iniguez, you can never have anything but the utmost respect for Nadezhda and take them very seriously because they will always be uber-prepared. Perhaps they don't look quite as strong on paper as last year which is always going to be the case when you lose a truly special player like DeWanna Bonner. But, they will remain one of the teams favoured to make the top four in the Group and perhaps even another Final Four if the wind blows favourably in their direction and they can get some momentum during the Regular Season. Certainly playing in Group B looks like it might suit them.
FIBA
