MUNICH (Germany) - The EuroLeague Women gets underway with 16 teams embarking on their journey in the First Round of the Regular Season, as dreams are set to be made and broken in what promises to be another thrilling campaign.
From frontrunners chasing silverware to underdogs looking to spring surprises, there's plenty to look forward to as the competition gets underway.
Group A
Arguably the most balanced group on paper, Group A will see a renewal of the recent rivalry between Casademont Zaragoza and Basket Landes. Both secured historic maiden Final Six berths last season. Kibirkstis-TOKS fought their way impressively through the Qualifiers, while the ambitious Athinaikos Qualco look seriously stacked.
The favorites: Athinaikos have assembled a Final Six-worthy roster, with quality, depth, and experience. Mariella Fasoula and Julie Vanloo will lead, with Alexis Prince, Borislava Hristova and Robyn Parks also highly influential. The underdogs: Kibirkstis-TOKS will feel they don't deserve it after lighting up the Qualifiers, but will use it as fuel to keep their ambitions burning. This group provides an opportunity to surprise, especially if they continue shooting the ball well from deep.
Key matchup: The rivalry between Casademont Zaragoza and Basket Landes will continue to provide maximum entertainment. Both made historic runs to Final Six; both have fabulous fans who pack out their home venues. These two games are going to be blockbuster affairs and look tough to predict on paper.
The star: Greek national team standout Mariella Fasoula should be the centerpiece for the ambitious Athinaikos. Her towering presence on both ends of the floor will be a feature of their play.
The rising star: While she is unlikely to post any breakout displays at this level just yet, it's worth putting 16-year-old Gabija Galvanauskaite on your watchlist. The Kibirkstis-TOKS rising star has been sensational at youth level. The X-factor: When you are packed with star names and look like being a frontrunner, will Athinaikos have that other all-important ingredient for success which is never guaranteed - team chemistry?
Group B
After making the 2026 Final, Galatasaray Cagdas Faktoring will be looking to go one better this time. But beware of Beretta Famila Schio who look more talented than ever and could post a landmark campaign. KKZ Crvena Zvezda could be dangerous after escaping the Qualifiers, while Kangoeroes Basket Mechelen will be out to surprise.
The favorites: Hanging onto marquee center Dorka Juhasz feels huge for Galatasaray, who should be favorites with her back in situ. They have other great players too, but that favorites label is not guaranteed with Schio's roster also generously sprinkled with star dust. The underdogs: The draw has not done the Belgian club any favors as Mechelen will do well to keep pace with the big-hitters Galatasaray and Schio. Even if they do have new arrivals Hind Ben Abdelkader and Grace Sullivan to inspire them on their return.
Key matchup: The battle for pole position could throw up a couple of absolute classics between Galatasaray and Schio. Dorka Juhasz will go up against her former club and it will be an epic duel between two teams looking like absolute locks to reach Final Six.
The star: Yes, it's all about Dorka Juhasz who will be looking for a repeat of her outstanding MVP campaign - despite the bitter blow of missing the Final with an injury. She was stunning for Hungary recently at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 to show that now fully recovered, she's back to her absolutely brilliant best. The rising star: Swedish teenager Linnea Norberg might have to be fast-tracked to a prominent role with Mechelen and it will be fascinating to see what the talented guard can produce at the highest level. The X-factor: The fight for first place doesn't appear to be in doubt, or the fact Kangoeroes might struggle. But where do Crvena Zvezda fit into the Group B First Round script? Could they be a fly in the ointment for Schio or Galatasaray?
Group C
Title holders Fenerbahce Tarfin remain the team to beat, especially after winning SuperCup Women 2026. Valencia Basket Club surprisingly missed Final Six last season so will want redemption. Flammes Carolo Basket stunned Reyer in the Qualifiers and look seriously handy, while Romanian side CS Rapid Bucuresti will try to be competitive.
The favorites: Fenerbahce have retained star duo Emma Meesseman and Julie Allemand, as well as adding plenty of new talent with Leila Lacan, Lauren Betts, Luisa Geiselsoder, Tima Pouye, Nell Angloma and Laura Juskaite. Early signs suggest this group can extend the club's growing legacy. The underdogs: CS Rapid Bucuresti will play without fear, or pressure - other than any they place on themselves internally. The experience of Ziomara Morrison and energy of Maxuella Lisowa-Mbaka will both be key. Key matchup: Could Valencia have what it takes to keep pace with Fenerbahce in the race to finish in top spot? They have a lot of talent on their roster and especially playing at home, they should be confident they can collect a victory.
The star: There's no looking past Emma Meesseman, with the Fenerbahce ace looking to lead her team to more silverware. A legend of the competition with her record haul of titles in the modern era, she will set the tone as usual with her excellence at both ends of the court. As she demonstrated with her SuperCup Women MVP performance. The rising star: Nell Angloma has only just turned 20 years old but has already made positive waves with her play and the Fenerbahce new recruit could be one to watch. She is smart, intense and has taken big steps in her game in the last two years. So much so, that arguably having ambitions to become a starter are realistic. The X-factor: Let's just say that Flammes torching Reyer in the Qualifiers with a massive win in Venice shows why they are the clear X-Factor in this group. Can the French side manage to emulate that level of play again?
Group D
It's possibly the most unpredictable and eclectic group and includes multiple edition champions in ZVVZ USK Praha and Tango Bourges Basket. It also welcomes a totally new face in Turkish club Emlak Konut who punched their ticket in the Qualifiers, while there is an unpredictable feel about Polish representatives, AZS UMCS Lublin.
The favorites: You could probably make a case for three of the four teams. But on balance, Praha assumes the moniker. They can rely on returnees Maite Cazorla and Pauline Astier, as well as welcoming Frieda Buhner, Aminata Gueye, Cassandre Prosper, Migna Toure and Brianna Fraser. Will they all gel though? The underdogs: Lublin look to have slightly fewer options on their roster as things stand and will lean very heavily on Catherine Reese and Kourtney Treffers. They will both need to hit a high gear to make the Second Round. Key matchup: Unlike every other group, there really does feel like there is only a negligible difference between the trio of Praha, Bourges and Emlak Konut. It makes for a truly mouth-watering set of matchups.
The star: Frieda Buhner arrives in Praha after an epic rise to prominence, mainly with Germany. From her superb debut at Paris 2024, excellent FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025 and fine FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026, the forward has got the skills and composure to be a real force after also excelling in EuroCup Women. The rising star: Ines Pitarch-Granel has the chance to break out in the competition with Bourges. The 20 year-old forward should have plenty of minutes to showcase her talent and has started off well in the French League. The X-factor: This group feels like it could pivot on Emlak Konut continuing their red-hot form from the Qualifiers - or not. They won so impressively at Spar Girona, but is this sustainable for the newcomers and can Reka Lelik continue to have the hot hand?
FIBA