NEWCASTLE (Paul Nilsen's Women's Basketball Worldwide) - The new EuroLeague Women season tips off tomorrow and having already reviewed Group A, it's now time to cast our eyes over Group B.

There is a strong rationale for Fenerbahce being favoured to finish top of the heap, but they will get severe competition from the likes of Tango Bourges Basket, Nadezhda Orenburg Region, Agu Spor Kulubu and Beretta Famila Schio.

As five into four doesn't go, it looks to be a beautiful fight for the quartet of play-off spots on offer - that is assuming CB Avenida don't muscle in with a challenge, while newcomers Energa Torun and BK Imos Brno are predicted to struggle.

Fenerbahce have undertaken moderate roster surgery during the off-season, including a change of play-caller with Poland national team boss Jacek Winnicki being drafted in to replace outgoing Spaniard, Roberto Iniguez.

The club have made a big double signing in the frontcourt with the arrival of USA star Tina Charles - the added spice being that she used to suit up for bitter rivals Galatasaray.

Astou Ndour has also arrived and she will get to go up against Sancho Lyttle in the big derby games in the Turkish League, with Ndour one of the best young prospects in the women's game and preparing to take the naturalised throne of Lyttle with Spain.

Miljana Bojovic has been signed from Good Angels Kosice and in Angel McCoughtry and Agnieszka Bibrzycka, there is continuity on the wings.

Tango Bourges lost Emmeline Ndongue to retirement and that was a big blow, but have brought in France national team center Helena Ciak and she will operate either alongside, or in competition with Opals center Marianna Tolo who was excellent at the FIBA World Championship for Women. The big issue for Bourges is getting Endene Miyem back to full health after her ongoing calf problems.

Diandra Tchatchouang will continue to patrol the wings, while yet another Les Bleues player in Paoline Salagnac and the world class string-puller Celine Dumerc will fil the backcourt, along with Great Britain national team centrepiece Johannah Leedham.

Beretta Famila Schio have arguably made the signing of the season in capturing number one WNBA draft pick Chiney Ogwumike and she has been outstanding in the Italian League so far. They still have veteran wing stars Laura Macchi and Raffaella Masciadri - as well as the future of Italian basketball in rising star Cecilia Zandalasini.

Nadezhda have great continuity with Anna Cruz to perpetuate her resurgence in the backcourt and Natalia Zhedik still providing a three-point threat. There are a glut of forward options, including DeWanna Bonner, Glory Johnson, Zoi Dimitrakou (who also plays under head coach Georgie Dikeoulakos for Greece) and Natalia Vieru who is one of the few newcomers to the roster.

Agu Spor Kulubu are certainly not newcomers, but Kayseri Kaski spor with a refreshed moniker. Kayseri of course having reached the Final Eight of the tournament during their rookie campaign last year. They will rely on Lara Sanders to be the driving force again, with the center recently demonstrating her capabilities in her new-found status as a naturalised Turkey national team star. Spain forward Laura Nicholls looks to be a quality acquisition - as does Romania kingpin Gabriela Marginean, while the experience of Styliani Kaltsidou could be critical.

CB Avenida have great chemistry and continuity going on - although they do have a new coach as Alberto Miranda returns to the helm. Angelica Robinson and Croatia national team center Marija Rezan will be expected to hold things down inside, with Marta Xargay and Eshaya Murphy being the main drivers from the backcourt.

BK Imos Brno look to have a wafer-thin roster and will do well to be competitive in most games, relying mainly on Swedish guard Frida Aili, center Jenna Smith and the nice balanced inside-outside game of Slovak Republic forward Katarina Tetemondova.
 
Energa Torun meanwhile will make their debut in the competition and could struggle to make a splash. However, they have been boosted by bringing in Serbia center Tijana Ajdukovic on loan from Sparta&K M.R. Vidnoje, while there is further FIBA World Championship for Women representation from Czech Republic forward Tereza Peckova, who gets a quick return back to her old home floor in Brno.

Paul Nilsen

FIBA

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