EUROLEAGUE WOMEN – USA’s Taurasi steals the show as Spartak three-peat in Europe

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SALAMANCA (EuroLeague Women) – Spartak Moscow Region and their cast of international superstars captured a third straight EuroLeague Women title over the weekend in Salamanca, Spain.

Laszlo Ratgeber’s team defeated UMMC Ekaterinburg 83-74 on Friday and followed that up with an 85-70 victory over hosts Halcon Avenida.

Diana Taurasi had 33 points in Friday’s Semi-Final triumph and then 31 on Sunday, earning MVP honors.

It marked the first time a club had won three consecutive EuroLeague Women crowns.

Plenty of the women’s basketball players from last summer’s Olympics were on show in Salamanca, a Spanish city with a huge appetite for the sport.

Avenida, who defeated MKB Euroleasing Sopron in their Semi-Final on Friday, boasted Latvia’s Gunta Basko and Spain’s Isa Sanchez.

Ekaterinburg had USA point guard Cappie Pondexter, Australia’s Penny Taylor, Belarus’ Yelena Leuchanka and Russia internationals Maria Stepanova, Svetlana Abrosimova, Natalia Vodopiyanova and Oxana Rakhmatulina.

It was Spartak’s Olympic contingent that had the most success, however.

Sue Bird had 17 points and her fellow Olympic gold medal winner Sylvia Fowles 14 with nine rebounds in the win over Ekaterinburg.

Lauren Jackson of Australia also scored 11 against UMMC and Russia’s Tatiana Shchegoleva eight.

On Sunday against Avenida, Marina Karpunina came up big with an important nine points and her fellow Russia international Irina Osipova also played important minutes.

Immediately after the final buzzer on Sunday, Taurasi said: "I'm really happy.

"It's not easy to win three EuroLeague titles in a row, but we have done it. It's been a difficult season for us, but this makes it all worth it."

Taurasi also spoke about the visit to Spain.

"We've had a really good weekend in Salamanca and the fans and the atmosphere has been amazing," she said.

FIBA