MUNICH (Germany) - The curtain is about to be raised on the 2025-26 EuroLeague Women Qualifiers, with clubs from right across the continent ready to take to the floor and in pursuit of a precious Regular Season spot. Here's a quick-fire guide to everything you need to know.
When do the Qualifiers start?
The Qualifiers draw produced five mouth-watering ties, with the winner of each matchup advancing to the First Round. These matchups will be played on a home and away basis.
The first meetings will take place on Wednesday, September 17 and Thursday, September 18, with the return games a week later on Wednesday, September 24. The full Qualifiers schedule is available, HERE.
What are the Qualifiers pairings?
KKZ Crvena Zvezda (SRB) vs Umana Reyer Venezia (ITA)
Legendary Serbian playcaller Marina Maljkovic will try to guide her team past their opponents and will lean on national team standout Yvonne Anderson who is a super addition. Their roster also has energy from Belgian winger Maxuella Lisowa-Mbaka. Meanwhile, Reyer will rely on a talented Italian core including Lorela Cuba and Matilde Villa - plus other experienced star names such as Ivana Dojkic, Kaila Charles, Steph Mavunga and Bernadett Hatar.
ACS Sepsi-SIC (ROM) vs Galatasaray Cagdas Faktoring (TUR)
Galatasaray will be huge favorites after stacking their roster and they'll not only be expected to advance, but make a noise all year. They've brought in Teja Oblak and Marine Johannes as a stellar backcourt combo.
Awak Kuier, Elizabeth Williams and Dorka Juhasz are also ready to dominate in the paint. Even if everyone isn't in situ for the tie, it's still a lot for Romanian champions Sepsi to have to deal with as they look for an epic upset.
Kibirkstis Vilnius (LTU) vs Tango Bourges Basket (FRA)
Kibirkstis Vilnius are looking to cause a surprise by knocking out three-time champions Tango Bourges Basket. They will hope Lithuanian national team ballers Kamile Nacickaite-Van Der Horst, Giedre Labuckiene and Gabija Meskonyte can fuel their success against a Bourges side who are pretty much going all-French this year. Expect Tima Pouye, Kariata Diaby, Alix Duchet, Maeva Djadi-Tabdi and Marie-Paule Foppossi to all feature prominently.
Zabiny Brno (CZE) vs Casademont Zaragoza (ESP)
Both teams enjoyed positive campaigns last year and Zaragoza try to bounce back from missing the first ever Final Six held on their home floor. Veteran playmaker Mariona Ortiz will be vital, as will fellow Spaniard Helena Pueyo, while there are new faces like Veronika Vorackova and Nadia Fingall.
Brno will need veterans Artemis Spanou, Amanda Zahui and Shante Evans to drop anchor inside, with Eliska Hamzova and Laura Juskaite shining elsewhere.
AZS UMCS Lublin (POL) vs DVTK HUNTHERM (HUN)
This looks a potentially finely balanced tie on paper at least, with Lublin having turned to frontcourt pair Laura Gil and Markeisha Gatling for their know-how, while former Gyor and Landes guard Destiny Slocum will pull the strings. Continuity is again the theme for DVTK with plenty of returnees as was the case last summer, although the Hungarians have turned to the underrated Spanish star Paula Ginzo to add more depth in the frontcourt.
History: How do Qualifiers teams fare in the Regular Season?
All three clubs who progressed from the Qualifiers last year in the shape of Basket Landes, Casademont Zaragoza and Zabiny Brno ended up in the Second Round. Two seasons ago, DVTK HUN-Therm made history when making the post-season for the first time and came close to reaching the Semi-Finals.
Meanwhile, Beretta Famila Schio reached the last eight of the 2021-22 campaign, with Spar Girona doing the same during 2020-21.
What happens to clubs who don't qualify for EuroLeague Women?
The clubs who don't manage to punch a ticket to the EuroLeague Women Regular Season will instead step into the EuroCup Women Regular Season. The draw for this competition can be found, HERE, with teams already provisionally placed.
Where can I follow the games?
Fans will be able to follow all of the games in the Qualifiers via the official website with games to be streamed live on the EuroLeague Women YouTube channel.
Don't forget to follow EuroLeague Women on Facebook, Instagram and X to stay up to date and join in on the action using #EuroLeagueWomen. FIBA