NEWCASTLE (Paul Nilsen’s Women’s Basketball Worldwide) – Even as one of the best women’s basketball competitions on the planet, there are still plenty of star names who are yet to step out in EuroLeague Women.

Here is just a selection of who I would love to see in the competition during coming seasons.

Elena Delle Donne (USA)

Strongly rumoured to be Fenerbahce bound on multiple occasions, it would be likely that Delle Donne would be most people’s number one choice. The USA star has well documented family reasons which has not made the prospect of a transition to playing overseas an easy proposition. Such a great player and is perfectly built to excel in the tournament.

Elizabeth Cambage (AUS)

Already with an eventful resume and someone who is a big personality as well as a big player and physical powerhouse on the court, Cambage would be a great addition. It would be such an interesting new chapter for her and I can imagine some really fine match-ups – potentially against the likes of Brittney Griner, Maria Vadeeva and even her Opals team-mate Marianna Tolo!

Ramu Tokashiki (JPN)

Having broken the mould by landing in the WNBA, how superb would it be to see the Japanese star blazing a trail by jumping to EuroLeague Women? Of course since she is such a massive star in her homeland, the likelihood of ever stepping away from the Japanese league is slim, but even just for one season, it would be fascinating to see if Tokashiki could make an impact in Europe.

Breanna Stewart (USA)

At last year’s Euroleague Women Final Four, the rumors were so strong that Stewart was going to Dynamo Kursk, that we were sat waiting for it to be confirmed that very weekend. It never happened and Stewart continues to be a marquee player in the WCBA. While China and her commercial appeal is important, I would think from a playing perspective, she would get so much from playing in an elite level tournament which is demanding – alongside new experiences in a European domestic league.

Park Jisu (KOR)

Even if the center seems like she has been around forever and yet is still a teenager, this phenomenon of basketball in Asia has time on her side. Time that is to convince us all that even if this looks the most unlikely of moves on my list, times do change, so we can never rule it out. It would appear there is a lot of cultural hurdles to overcome, including that magnetic appeal of the WKBL in her homeland of course. But, as with the case of other Asian based players, just one season could make Jisu into an even better player.

Kia Nurse (CAN)

Looking down the list, I was told by a colleague that Nurse is one of the most likely future EuroLeague Women performers and stars identified. Of course right now, she is doing her thing in the NCAA. There are not a whole lot of Canadians in EuroLeague Women and they have been mainly in EuroCup Women, but Nurse does have the capacity to be a high level player in Europe. 

Damiris Dantas (BRA)

The Brazilian has dodged the competition in her career to date and having shown some progress in the WNBA, she could possibly take her frontcourt talents to this stage now. She can also look to a compatriot and legend in Erika Souza, while Clarissa Dos Santos has also made a splash too.

Leia Dongue (ANG)

So which player could fly the flag for Africa moving forward, with the Continent having provided some stars down the years? With her athleticism and strength, I would be surprised if Dongue could not do a decent job in EuroLeague Women. I have always been impressed with her game internationally and the Maputo native might be able to now showcase her skills in Spain at Gernika, where she signed recently.

Jonquel Jones (USA)

Li Yueru (CHN)

Most people will strike this one off as unfeasible because players from China are not deemed to be ever likely to come to Europe. But, that might change as I alluded to earlier in respect of Asian stars. I would love to see an Asian influx at some point, because a league is better when it is more cosmopolitan. Yueru would be near the top of my list too, since the forward is an incredible teenage talent who has already shown on the senior stage in China colors, just how good she could be.

Paul Nilsen

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