NEWCASTLE (Paul Nilsen's Women's Basketball Worldwide) - This time next week, the highlight of the European club season will be in full swing at the EuroLeague Women Final Eight in Ekaterinburg, where Group B looks to be just as fascinating as the first pool of teams.

The fact that Nadezhda Orenburg have even made it to their first ever appearance at the event is an achievement in itself. Not because they didn’t have the talent when the season tipped-off, because they certainly did, after a summer of investment.

However, they endured a torrid and what looked at the time, to be a potentially disastrous 0-4 start to the season. After sending an SOS to Greek national team coach, George Dikeoulakos it all changed. Arriving after the first three losses, he instilled his trademark discipline and organisation, with Nadezhda not needing to look back.

In fact, the Russian club are one of the form teams of the last few months and much of that is down to DeWanna Bonner. Her near triple-double in the play-offs against Wisla Can-Pack underlined just how much of a game-changer Nadezhda have.

There are other big talents too, including Glory Johnson who has done a superb job in the paint and the feisty Greek forward, Zoi Dimitrakou who is fun to watch and always sets the tone. The one big blow is that the team will be without the best three-point shooter in the tournament, as Natalia Zhedik has gone off on maternity leave.

Whatever happens, Nadezhda will enjoy it. The club is spending 2014 celebrating its 20th Birthday and reaching Final Eight was quite a present. Maybe there will be more to follow.

Also making a debut will be ZVVZ USK Prague and full props are due to veteran play-caller, Natalia Hejkova. A winner seven years ago with Sparta&K M.R. Vidnoje, this time she has led the Czech champions to the best campaign in their history.

After a stunning regular season, the players didn’t let it go to waste by stamping their passport to Ekaterinburg, primarily behind the old-school playmaking skills of Spanish veteran, Laia Palau and Montenegrin forward, Jelena Dubljevic.

With further big game experience held by the Czech contingent of Eva Viteckova, Ilona Burgrova and Katerina Elhotova, as well as added power in the paint via Kia Vaughn, Prague will be a dangerous opponent and finishing second in the group is not out of the question.

Nadezhda and ZVVZ USK Prague look well matched and when you then throw Tango Bourges into the equation, all are in the bidding to finish second in group B behind runaway favourites, tournament hosts and the defending champions, UMMC Ekaterinburg.

What Tango Bourges have is experience of playing last year when they finished third. They have a world class leader and conductor in the unmistakable Celine Dumerc and some real ‘X-Factor’ players who can have big games on any night like Johannah Leedham and Styliani Kaltsidou who are both back from injuries.

Most of all, Bourges have a real toughness and a strong interior game, through the ever consistent Endene Miyem , defensive anchor Emmeline Ndongue and Opals' center Marianna Tolo, who has had a superb rookie season in the competition. Valerie Garnier will continue making her team hard to beat and defensively, they will be watertight. The question is whether Johannah Leedham and Styliani Kaltsidou can have a scoring input from the wings?

Last but not least, there is UMMC Ekaterinburg. Can any team get close to them? Anything is possible, but the smart money says no, or at least if they play the kind of incredible defence as last year.

They haven’t lost on their own floor for more than two years, they have worldwide superstars in Candace Parker (last year’s MVP) and Diana Taurasi, they have a pragmatic and superb coach in Olaf Lange, home support and a string of other top stars.

If they don’t retain their title, it will represent failure. It’s perhaps harsh, but absolutely true.

The eye-popping size of their budget, the way they raised the bar when they won their first title in a decade last season and the level of expectation, all point towards UMMC taking title number two.

I suspect also UMMC minds behind the scenes might be focused on the year 2017.

For if all the current ingredients stay the same (and not least the finance), then they could be taking title number five in a row - beating the four successive Championships won by arch rivals, Sparta&K M.R. Vidnoje.

For now though, it’s getting number two on the board which matters and at this juncture, I can’t see any other outcome.

Paul Nilsen

FIBA

FIBA's columnists write on a wide range of topics relating to basketball that are of interest to them. The opinions they express are their own and in no way reflect those of FIBA.

FIBA takes no responsibility and gives no guarantees, warranties or representations, implied or otherwise, for the content or accuracy of the content and opinion expressed in the above article.