Eight of the best signings of the EuroCup Women off season
MUNICH (Germany) - All EuroCup Women clubs have been busy during the off-season looking to strengthen their rosters for the Regular Season, but which signings have impressed the most?
Here's eight of the most exciting signings of recent months.
Gabby Williams - LDLC ASVEL Feminin
It's quite the coup for LDLC ASVEL Feminin to land the reigning EuroLeague Women MVP and considering they have already acquired the services of the legendary Sandrine Gruda, they will be a frontrunner for the title. As well as excelling with Sopron Basket last season as the Hungarian club made history with a first title, Williams also became the leader for France at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup recently in Sydney. Now able to play in front of French fans every week domestically and try to lead Lyon to a European title is an exciting dynamic. She will always lead by example on the floor and defensively in particular is a colossus.
Azura Stevens - Galatasaray Cagdas Factoring
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Galatasaray have made a number of new signings for the 2022-23 campaign as they press the reset button and look to launch another EuroCup Women title challenge having made last season's Final Four. The competition is intense in the Turkish League as well as in EuroCup Women and she showed her scoring power last year with 20 points per game in the competition with Nika Syktyvkar. She also averaged double-digits this past WNBA season with the Chicago Sky. This aspect of her game, combined with her strength around the boards make her a walking double-double and she could prove to be a major power for the Istanbul giants.
Tilbe Senyurek - InvestInTheWest Enea Gorzow
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One player who has moved out of Turkey is national team star Tilbe Senyurek. This is arguably the most fascinating transfer of any player in Europe this season, let alone merely in EuroCup Women. Ravaged by injuries in these past years, a move to Poland feels like a new chapter in every way. The Turkey national team would benefit hugely from the center returning to the super high levels of a few seasons ago and this could prove to be a masterstroke by Gorzow. Senyurek had a massive 26 points in her first Polish League game and if she can stay healthy and settle off the court, great things could happen for club and player.
Kalani Brown - Maccabi Bnot Ashdod
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A powerhouse who has already shown her teeth in a big way in EuroCup Women, Brown is a great addition for Maccabi Bnot. The center was sensational last year with Hatay BSB and came close to posting a phenomenal season double-double after accumulating 20.6 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. The Baylor alumni provides a major defensive headache for opponents because of her size and power, while critically she gives the Israeli club a defensive anchor to work around in their first EuroCup Women campaign in six years.
Luisa Geiselsoder - Roche Vendee
Even if Geiselsoder is not necessarily the biggest name on this list in terms of her resume or the numbers she has posted, this looks a smart signing by Roche Vendee and one that the German can also make the most of. She gets to stay in France and in EuroCup Women having previously impressed with Landerneau. Efficient, consistent and still only 22 years old with scope to grow and improve in the post, Geiselsoder is also one to watch because she's pivotal to Germany's aim to make the FIBA Women's EuroBasket for the first time in more than a decade as many of their rising stars who won youth trophies now need to show they can deliver at senior level.
Brianna Fraser - Flammes Carolo Basket
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Superb last season for ACS Sepsi-SIC, she was the driving force in delivering yet more domestic silverware for the Romanian powerhouse. Fraser also lit it up in the EuroLeague Women Qualifiers and in subsequent EuroCup Women games where she racked up a truly stellar 27 points per game. For Flammes to land last season's leading scorer in the tournament is a huge boost and she will be the centerpiece for the French team. The forward also pulled down more than 9 rebounds per outing so will be doing the hard work on the glass at both ends of the floor as well.
Awak Kuier - Umana Reyer Venezia
The Finland star is one of the most exciting players in the female game and having showcased her skills in Italy last season with Passalacqua Ragusa, Kuier is now ready for a EuroCup Women debut after switching to Umana Reyer. With crazy athleticism, able to throw down dunks and getting better with every passing month, she has only just turned 21 years old and that means she has so much scope to grow into a leading performer. Don't be surprised if her rookie season in the competition is one that sees her stuff the highlights reel and she will be looking to be one of her team's leading scorers and rebounders.
Emma Cannon - Bursa Uludag Basketbol
Bursa fans can get ready to count the double-doubles as the veteran powerhouse prepares to put up more incredible numbers in the competition. Last year with Israeli side Neve David Ramla she accumulated a stunning near double-double across the campaign of 26.9 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. Her power, experience and amazing production will be vital and in what may be a case of pending deja vu as the last time she played in Turkey a couple of years ago, she took first timers Elazig on a deep run in the competition. Same again?
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