53 Gunta Basko-melnbarde (TTT Riga) (photo: Alexander Lukin)
10/10/2017
Paul Nilsen's Women's Basketball Worldwide
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Reasons to watch EuroCup Women

NEWCASTLE (Paul Nilsen’s Women’s Basketball Worldwide) – It's the eve of the EuroCup Women Regular Season and there are plenty of reasons to get gripped on this tournament. 

A world class veterans club

Thank you

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EuroCup Women is a competition dripping with top quality 'golden-oldies'. The list is endless, but arguably headlining it are legends like Celine Dumerc, Jelena Skerovic, Evanthia Maltsi, Zuzana Zirkova, Irina Osipova and Gunta Basko-Melnbarde.

Boredom is not an option

You never get tired of the same old teams in EuroCup Women like in some leagues or competitions as there are 40 Regular Season clubs to follow, so almost 500 players. There really is something for everyone and new clubs debuting such as Spanish side, Lointek Gernika Bizkaia. You will never be overwhelmed either, since game days see Live Updates and Daily Wraps via the official site, while many clubs stream games live and free on YouTube. 

Watch a 2017 WNBA Finals champion

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Renee Montgomery has just seen a WNBA Championship ring slid onto her finger with Minnesota Lynx. After a short break, she will be heading to Flammes Carolo Basket to lead their bid to win EuroCup Women.

The Opals' connection

Leilani Mitchell and Marianna Tolo are two players from Australia who are very much worth watching this year. The former is showing her guard skills at Hatay, while Tolo is stepping out with another Turkish team in the shape of Agu Spor.

Exciting rising star talent

This competition remains the number one launch-pad for European rising stars and that is set to continue. Maybe time for you to write a watch-list? Here are some to get you rolling - Maria Conde [Spar Citylift Girona], Olga Yatskovets [MBK Ruzomberok], Annamaria Prezelj [Gorzow], Anna Makurat [Basket 90 Gdynia], Agnes Studer [KSZ Szekszard], Kadiatou Sissoko [Basket Landes], Ivana Dojkic and Kamila Ogun [Sparta&K M.R. Vidnoje].

It is impossible to predict a winner - it's wide open!


I could make a case for 10 clubs that you could see riding their way to the top podium step. In so many sports and even in some basketball competitions, the favorites are normally 2-3 different teams, but take your pick in EuroCup Women. That is so intriguing and exciting! Your guess is as good as mine! French side Flammes Carolo Basket could be one of those in this mix!

Racking up the air miles

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This event really does cover the expanse of the continent, with games as far east as Krasnoyarsk in Russia [Siberia] to the Portugal coast in the far west of Europe with GDESSA-Barreiro. You have to love the diversity of the leagues which these clubs come from, the differences in culture and it makes for one of the most eclectic Continental club competitions in existence. With plenty of timezones, it means you can also follow games for more than 10 hours sometimes - perfect for hoops junkies!

The EuroLeague Women parachute

🏀🏆 Tebrikler #YDU_Melekleri @eminekoc6 @olcycakirfanclub4 @elineldebrink @gizembasaran15 @pr3pe @sinematas @bhr9 @berfinsatir

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You could argue that EuroCup Women is two competitions in one, since after the Regular Season, we have some EuroLeague Women clubs who parachute into the competition. That raises the standard and while controversial to some, last year showed that it does not mean the end of silverware for those who played from the start as it was two EuroCup Women Regular Season teams in Agu Spor and eventual champions Yakin Dogu Universitesi who competed in the 2017 Final. What it does mean is that the tournament gets an injection of even more quality and intensity. So going back to picking winners, which EuroCup Women clubs could beat those in EuroLeague Women over two legs?

Paul Nilsen

FIBA

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Paul Nilsen

Paul Nilsen

As a women's basketball specialist for FIBA and FIBA Europe, Paul Nilsen eats, sleeps and breathes women’s hoops and is incredibly passionate about promoting the women’s game - especially at youth level. In Women’s Basketball Worldwide, Paul scours the globe for the very latest from his beloved women’s basketball family.