My All-Star East Europe line-up

NEWCASTLE (Paul Nilsen’s Women’s Basketball Worldwide) – Having named my All-Star West Europe roster last week, it's time to explain my All-Star East Europe selections.

Reminding you once again of the West and East split in this debate about this imaginary contest that I would love to become reality one day, I must confess that choosing this East roster was even more difficult and took me days.

Courtney Vandersloot (Hungary and Yakin Dogu Universitesi)

With a level of play that is off the chart right now and still heading skywards, Vandersloot was sensational last year in a historic season at Yakin Dogu Universitesi and grabbed the naturalized slot with Hungary - so she gets the nod for the same role in this line-up. A proven WNBA performer and now turning heads in EuroLeague Women, she is just so, so good. One of my favorite guards in a long time, she is on-fire and makes the game look so easy. Top class!

Nika Baric (Slovenia and UMMC Ekaterinburg)
From youth phenomenon to a near-seasoned EuroLeague Women performer, Baric has been around for so long that you forget she is only mid-20’s and therefore with another decade at the top to follow. Having made history with Slovenia during their historic maiden EuroBasket Women Final Round appearance, she has even more experience to her name. Creating or scoring, she is always a threat on the floor and it feels like she is now at a watershed where she can be either a very good player – or possibly a leader at every level!

Ana Dabovic (Serbia and Fenerbahce)

It is a such a strange fact that while Dabovic won EuroBasket Women 2015 and did so as MVP, before following it with a WNBA ring, she has only just returned to EuroLeague Women after some five seasons away. It feels like we have all missed out and with Fenerbahce now hoping she can make up for lost time. When she gets on a roll, you can tear up your defensive strategy because she is likely to just keep on getting them to drop. Not the quickest to the naked eye, but with deceptive pace when she needs, Dabovic can create off the dribble or catch and shoot. She is one of the best and most dangerous ‘X-Factor’ players around. 

Alina Iagupova (Ukraine and Cukurova Basketbol)

There is no more explosive player in the women’s game than Iagupova and that includes players from any other nation – including USA. While it obviously does not mean she is better, I don’t think I have seen any other player like her when she hits top gear. She is so different because she can shoot from another zip code or use her power and athleticism to drive into the lane under even the most intense defensive pressure. One of the best players to have never played in the WNBA, that is a place she would surely flourish, because she has the amazing physical attributes – as well as the skills. Not an easy defensive assignment for anyone!

Evgeniia Belyakova (Russia and UMMC Ekaterinburg)
This choice might feel like it is out of leftfield to a few people, but that in itself is ludicrous to me. Belyakova does have some limitations like a lot of even top players, but her quick hands on defense and sensational three-point shooting when she is playing with confidence are things I just couldn’t ignore. The minutes she plays with Russia clearly underlines her value and I find it incredulous that she doesn’t get more court time at club level. In fact, I would love to see her playing in a different European League one day, something that would give her a fresh challenge. For now though, she can have a spot on my All-Star roster.

Sonia Petrovic (Serbia and Dynamo Kursk)

Some people might raise an eyebrow at this comment, but I genuinely think Petrovic is moving into the realms of being one of the greatest female players in history. Absolutely when it comes to the All-Time European list. I can’t stress enough what I think of her skills and application. Much of that is driven by her personality and basketball IQ, because she really does know when to turn up her volume and also take it down a notch – according to any game situation. Ball on the floor or with ball in the hands ready to shoot, you had better be thinking about the double-team because she will torch you more times than not. Even when it is not her night, she still makes me smile and brings me so much enjoyment. The very first name on this list.

Alena Hanusova (Czech Republic and ZVVZ USK Prague)
What a tremendously athletic player Hanusova is and I would love to see her get the confidence to throw down a dunk in a EuroLeague Women game. I have been told she could do it. Certainly nobody can run the floor quite like her and her transition game means that once she goes, her defender needs a motorbike to get anywhere near a decent recovery position. With veterans leaving both Czech Republic and Prague of late, she has no option but to emerge as a new leader. If that is not a natural thing, she has stepped up a level in recent times to lead by example when it comes to her play and production.

Jelena Milovanovic (Serbia and Sopron Basket)

Anyone who has not seen Milovanovic play previously would probably take a glance at the forward pre-game and wonder how she can be one of the most prolific players around. Not blessed with the usual athleticism of many other power-forwards, she does know one thing – how to put the ball through the hoop. And, that is from pretty much anywhere on the floor, with her terrific shooting powers and range making her a nightmare to guard. She is also decent handling the ball and a leader, so loves that responsibility in the key moments.

Jelena Dubljevic (Montenegro and Galatasaray)
A former WNBA winner and veteran of European club competitions, Dubljevic can get into the face of her opponents as good as anyone I have seen. Yet the fire that she breathes is also parallel to another side of her game that sometimes gets overlooked. When she has to be a leader for Montenegro, she is often the centrepiece, yet she is smart enough to shift down a gear at club level and play more subtle but still hugely important cameos if required. She brings some flexibility in the forward spots while defensively, nobody ever gets to take liberties around her. 

Anastasiya Verameyenka (Belarus and Fenerbahce)
A stone-cold and steely-eyed assassin, Verameyenka has a two-track playlist of effortlessly blocking shots and making jumpers at the other end of the court for club and country. Defensively she is a power and is unflappable with a hand in her face. Sometimes people have commented on the seeming lack of emotion, but if that passion is not demonstrated outwardly, her ability to impact on high-level games most certainly is. She is also now a senior figure and a hugely experienced competitor which is another bonus.

Maria Vadeeva (Russia and Dynamo Kursk)

How many times have I said it already? If you built a women’s basketball robot to destroy opponents in the paint, in every way it would be like Vadeeva. She is ‘The Terminator’ and just runs over anything in her path. Her numbers are astronomical, she is a EuroLeague Women champion, she is unstoppable down low, has a good temperament, fine footwork and probably doesn’t know how good she is. Amazingly, she is still a teenager and destined to be one of women’s basketball’s truly great players if she continues. Wow. Just Wow.

Anete Steinberga (Latvia and Castors Braine)
I understand the inclusion of Steinberga will be somewhat controversial as many women’s basketball fans/observers seem to be split on the relative merits of the Latvian star. I concede, she can be unpredictable at times, can sometimes look like she is a ‘confidence player’ so appear like she is not fully tuned into some bigger moments. Yet in spite of these factors, I really do love her upsides - a lot. I think she is a real handful and when she is ‘on her game’, with her numbers and performances for her country in particular backing that notion up. I don't think she has been given due credit for a lot of things and I think she could blossom even more in the next couple of years.

Next week I will reveal who would conquer this imaginary All-Star game and why, with an added insight into who I would like to coach the respective teams.

Paul Nilsen

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