UMMC revolution on the cards

NEWCASTLE (Paul Nilsen’s Women’s Basketball Worldwide) – Agents will be licking their lips in anticipation after it was revealed a revolution will take place at arguably the most powerful club in the world.

The limitless resources of powerhouse EuroLeague Women side UMMC Ekaterinburg are set to be thrown at a variety of new players as a radical roster overhaul is initiated during the off-season.

While UMMC won their seventh successive Russian Premier League title last week, it isn’t domestic success which fuels this money-laden machine, but a craving to try and secure the same kind of dominance at EuroLeague Women level.

One of the most interesting aspects of the Russian media reports of the soon-to-be initiated revolution, is that head coach Olaf Lange and assistant Sandy Brondello will survive the cull.

It would appear that losing Diana Taurasi for the EuroLeague Women Final Four has been seen as the club’s hierarchy as sufficient mitigation and therefore despite losing to massive underdogs ZVVZ USK Prague in the title game, the pair will continue.

Interestingly, a colleague of mine had asked the question in the Czech capital as to whether there was any notion of a switch of roles, with Brondello moving to the head coach position. Maybe that's one for another day, although the issue for me has never been the coaching. They just couldn't buy a bucket from downtown in that pulsating Prague Final.

What looks to be most important, is who they will have on their roster next season.

I also don’t buy into the concept that it will be quite so dramatic as it is being outlined, even if General Manager Maxim Rybakov stated that only Diana Taurasi is guaranteed to return.

If taken at face value, then surely that means that Candace Parker is ready to return home to the States, since I can’t believe that UMMC would ever dispense with her services and allow her to go to a rival because she has been outstanding in the last two or three years.

Equally, it is tough to see European megastars Sandrine Gruda and Alba Torrens not being on board next year. If they do leave, there will be an almighty scramble to secure their services.

Whatever happens with this trio of big hitters, I guess that as many as seven or eight players will be shown the door and right from the outset, I reiterate one long-standing thing which I absolutely implore UMMC to do.

Sign at least one and preferably two of the best young players in the word – and actually play them.

I understand the need to have the very best and I understand the value of experience. However, to build a dynasty at EuroLeague Women level, surely having a couple of rising stars who can develop and flourish within the UMMC structure is achievable.

As a champion of young and emerging talent, I don’t see why they can’t include it as a specific aim within the context of the rejuvenation of their roster.

After all, there are also some spectacular young Russian players out there. Although ironically, most of the best are located at Sparta&K M.R. Vidnoje – the former arch rivals of UMMC.

Meanwhile in terms of which senior players will be heading to UMMC this summer – it almost boils down to whoever they want.

I guess any top players who have just penned deals with their existing clubs or a new club might be left kicking themselves now the green light has been given for UMMC to splash more cash and assemble a new team.

Suffice to say that I am hugely excited to see how this shakes up off-season player movement and I am fascinated to see how Ryabkov and Lange set about compiling this new UMMC roster.

There is absolute no doubt that they failed in Prague.

Even without Taurasi they should have had enough in their locker room to see off the eventual winners.

The hosts may have been inspired on the day and were indeed fabulous, but when I looked at the ashen faced Rybakov and Lange in the closing minutes – they knew like everyone else that they had dropped the ball at the most crucial time.

They will be determined to make amends.

Having survived the axe, this is the most important summer for UMMC in memory as they try to return to the top of the EuroLeague Women podium - a place where they have spent far too little time taking into account the mind-boggling investment made.

Paul Nilsen

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