NEWCASTLE (Paul Nilsen's Women's Basketball Worldwide) - With the EuroLeague Women pause button pushed ahead of next month's Final Four, it's the perfect time to look back at which players have posted a breakout season in the competition.

There were a number of great candidates, but I have managed to narrow it down to the six players that I think have shown they can and will be big contributors in the competition.

Julia Reisingerova - Spar Girona

CENTER

Height: 1.94m
Date of Birth: April 17, 1998 (22 years old)
Statistics: 10.9 PPG; 62% FG; 2.6 RPG; 19.9 MPG

In a tournament that is dominated by 'bigs' it is never easy to impose yourself and Reisingerova did a good job in showing that she has what it takes at this level. Helping Spar Girona register a record-breaking season as they made the post-season for the first time, she shot the ball brilliantly and played a full role. Even if she was perhaps a bit quick to foul and could have potentially grabbed more rebounds, she is still young and was very impressive. I look forward to her growing in influence in each subsequent season she appears!

Veronika Vorackova - ZVVZ USK Praha

SHOOTING GUARD

Height: 1.80m
Date of Birth: June 21, 1999 (21 years old)
Statistics: 4.2 PPG; 3.7 RPG; 3.2 APG; 26.2 MPG

It seems like Vorackova has been around forever and yet it also feels like this season is when she finally made the step to show she can be a leading player. She didn't shoot the ball well enough, that is true. However, you have to look at the 26 minutes per game to see just how much experience she has gained. Importantly, she has also shown some really nice work on the glass and through her often overlooked passing skills. If she finds some shooting rhythm next season, she can continue her development. 

Marine Fauthoux - LDLC ASVEL Feminin

POINT GUARD

Height: 1.76m
Date of Birth: January 23, 2001 (20 years old)
Statistics: 4.3 PPG; 1.5 APG; 16.7 MPG

Starting the season when still a teenager, it has been another great learning curve for Fauthoux at club level and she has certainly matured in an LDLC ASVEL Feminin vest in past months. Playing almost 17 minutes per game shows how much she can be trusted and even if she has a long way to go and will be loaned to Basket Landes for 2021-22, the French guard has demonstrated that she can be a star of the future with her performances so far. She is on an upward trajectory and combined with her burgeoning role with the national team, there is lot's to be excited about.

Maria Araujo - Spar Girona

POWER FORWARD 

Height: 1.82m
Date of Birth: August 1, 1997 (23 years old)
Statistics: 10.4 PPG; 6.2 RPG; 24.7 MPG

While there was a lot of deserved attention on Araujo for the way she was crowned Top Performer for Gameday 4, the forward has been consistent across the whole campaign and shown she is capable of impacting at this level. Speaking about her 'Year of Dreams' she has become a key member of the Spar Girona team, starting games and delivering. Now it will be interesting to see if she will be given the thumbs up for Spain by Lucas Mondelo, since she could barely have done more to underline how she should be part of the new generation for her country. 

Olga Frolkina - Dynamo Kursk

POWER FORWARD 

Height: 1.83m
Date of Birth: July 28, 1997 (23 years old)
Statistics: 8.5PPG; 49% FG; 2.0 RPG; 23.6 MPG

It was yet another roller-coaster and at times frustrating season as far as Dynamo Kursk were concerned. However, I feel it is important that the work of Frolkina needs to be flagged up, since she showed that she can contribute at this level and was at the heart of some of the best work her team did. She shot the ball pretty well and was always working at the defensive end, something not everyone of her teammates can say.

Emese Hof - Perfumerias Avenida

CENTER

Height: 1.90m
Date of Birth: May 29, 1996 (24 years old)
Statistics: 8.1 PPG; 53% FG; 7.0 RPG; 21.7 MPG

You have to credit the Netherlands star for her contribution this season and she's not quite done yet after helping to take Perfumerias Avenida to their first Final Four since 2011. Being the leading rebounder for a Final Four club speaks volumes and Hof has made the most of the minutes she has played with a very efficient and quality contribution. She is not a big scorer in the team, but has played her role very well, making sound shot selections and working hard on the glass. 

Paul Nilsen

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