MUNICH (Germany) - The EuroLeague Women season will once again provide the perfect platform for a glut of box-office stars to showcase their skills, pack this year's highlights reel and lead their respective teams in the pursuit of silverware.
It's been a tough task to narrow down an incredibly deep talent pool to just 10 players, but here's some of the leading names to put on your must-watch list.
Who is your favorite? Let us know by casting your vote in the fan poll below!
Emma Meesseman - Fenerbahce Opet
POWER FORWARD
Birth Date: May 13, 1993 (32 years old) Height: 1.93m (6ft 4in) Nationality: BEL
Making history as EuroLeague Women MVP yet again, Meesseman is simply an incredible player who has already cemented her status as a legend of this competition - both with her accomplishments at team and individual level. Not winning the title last year will have hurt and she will be eager to make amends with Fenerbahce this season. Expect her usual outstanding leadership, as well as the Belgian coming up clutch in the biggest moments of all.
Brionna Jones - ZVVZ USK Praha
CENTER
Birth Date: December 18, 1995 (29 years old) Height: 1.90m (6ft 3in) Nationality: USA
Jones was not only crowned a EuroLeague Women champion with ZVVZ USK Praha last season, she also made it a double celebration by becoming the first ever Final Six MVP. Her towering displays underpinned her team's success and while she might not be a player who regularly delivers highlight plays, she is a machine when it comes to scoring, rebounding and efficiency. Her size and defensive presence will also be welcomed again.
Marine Johannes - Galatasaray Cagdas Faktoring
GUARD
Birth Date: January 21, 1995 (30 years old) Height: 1.77m (5ft 10in) Nationality: FRA
It feels like big things are happening at Galatasaray and the Turkish powerhouse have assembled their best roster in memory, with Johannes very much the centerpiece. The French guard has fans off their seats in every game with her phenomenal shooting skills, while her creative flair is guaranteed to put a smile on your face. But it's not just about entertainment, Johannes could be ready to head back to Final Six and will be central to her team's chances.
Juste Jocyte - Spar Girona
GUARD
Birth Date: November 19, 2005 (19 years old) Height: 1.84m (6ft 0in) Nationality: LTU
One of the most exciting transfers of the summer, the Lithuanian rising star returning to EuroLeague Women is big news. Still a teenager, she hasn't yet averaged more than 5 points per game, but expect that output to now rocket skywards. She has accelerated the quality of her decision-making and will be given the green light to be a go-to star for Girona. A magician because of her talent and skills, the highlights reel is waiting patiently to be filled.
Jonquel Jones - Fenerbahce Opet
CENTER
Birth Date: January 5, 1994, (29 years old) Height: 1.98m (6ft 6in) Nationality: BIH
With a dominating athletic frame, crazy length and versatile skills, Jones is maybe one of the most unique players in the women's game. A tour de force when delivering to the top of her ability, she's a walking double-double and has shown previously she can play big roles in stacked rosters like she did previously at UMMC Ekaterinburg. Jones might just be a real 'X-Factor' for Fenerbahce as the favorites try to regain the crown they lost earlier this year.
Raquel Carrera - Valencia Basket Club
POWER FORWARD / CENTER
Birth Date: October 31, 2001 (23 years old) Height: 1.90m (6ft 3in) Nationality: ESP
The Spanish frontcourt operator is so composed and hard to slow down when she gets rolling and after last year's injury-impacted campaign, she will be looking to make up for lost time. So, don't rule out Carrera posting the best EuroLeague Women season of her career in these next months. Valencia will need her at her best if they want to realize their title dreams and she will certainly rack up the numbers and could be a leader in points and rebounds.
Cecilia Zandalasini - Beretta Famila Schio
GUARD
Birth Date: March 16, 1996 (29 years old) Height: 1.86m (6ft 1in) Nationality: ITA
It's full circle as Zandalasini makes a return to the competiton with the club where she made her name. Schio bringing back the Italian leader and standout could be a masterstroke and especially off the back of her taking her country to that fabulous FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025 bronze medal. A momentum-shifter, deal-breaker and constant danger for any opponent, her scoring and creative skills gives Schio a new edge this season.
Kennedy Burke - CIMSA CBK Mersin
GUARD
Birth Date: February 14, 1997 (28 years old) Height: 1.85m (6ft 1in) Nationality: USA
A driving force for any team because of her ability to play with such a relentless mindset and physically aggressive approach at both ends, Burke was the heartbeat of Villeneuve d'Ascq a couple of seasons ago when they made their first ever Final. Her defensive work in particular is always so impressive, so expect her ball pressure and reading of the game to produce plenty of steals - as well as getting some big buckets on offense too.
Teja Oblak - Galatasaray Cagdas Faktoring
GUARD
Birth Date: December 20, 1990 (34 years old) Height: 1.72m (5ft 8in) Nationality: SLO
A role model, leader and someone who is renowned as one of the best guards regularly performing in this elite competition, the Slovenian ace came back from serious injury last season and ended up being crowned a champions with ZVVZ USK Praha. A super addition for Galatasaray, she ticks all the boxes and will use her know-how, skills and well-balanced game to pull the strings in the backcourt for the ambitious Turkish giants.
Mariona Ortiz - Casademont Zaragoza
GUARD
Birth Date: February 28, 1992 (33 years old) Height: 1.82m (6ft 0in) Nationality: ESP
The heroics that Ortiz performed in the miraculous comeback win for Zaragoza during the Qualifiers perfectly encapsulated the incredible influence that the guard has on her team. Her 26 point haul against Brno showed it's not only about her awesome defense and leadership - or dishing out dimes. She can make clutch plays too and it is no surprise just how much her teammates and the fans in the Spanish city love her.
FIBA