10 players on absolute fire heading into the new EuroLeague Women season

MUNICH (Germany) - As we countdown to the start of the EuroLeague Women Regular Season, there are a number of players who will step onto the court having already found a high gear.

Here's our pick of those players who have caught fire recently and will be looking to make splash in the first EuroLeague Women hub.

Ivana Dojkic - ZVVZ USK Praha

A great addition to the title chasing Praha, the Croatian ace brings that added scoring power to the backcourt and could form a fruitful Balkan partnership with Teja Oblak. The way Dojkic performed for Croatia in the recent FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2021 Qualifers was immense, as she continued on from her excellent displays in EuroCup Women with KSC Szekszard last year. Expect her to be an 'X-Factor' for her team and regularly hold the hot hand in game-winning performances.

Satou Sabally - Fenerbahce 

From the moment the German standout touched down in Istanbul, she has made a sizeable impression and there is a lot of excitement about what she might be able to achieve in her first EuroLeague Women season. Certainly if it's anything like her inaugural WNBA campaign when she made the All-Rookie Team, there will be plenty to enjoy. Already riding high in the Turkish League statistical charts, she is putting numbers up early and is already a fan favorite.

Breanna Stewart - UMMC Ekaterinburg

 
Let's be brutally honest. If Stewart barely gets out of second gear she is still on fire compared to many other players. You get the sense that she will unleash the frustration of last season's unfinished business at UMMC, which was supposed to be the making up for that Achilles injury in the 2019 Final with Kursk. It didn't happen and if she gets anywhere near her WNBA form from this year which led to her being crowned Finals MVP, then UMMC fans and the neutrals are going to love seeing Stewie in full flight this side of the Pond.

Alexia Chartereau - Bourges Basket

The second top scorer in the French League right now with more than 18 points per game, the transition of Chartereau from a former EuroLeague Women Young Player of the Season to established leader of her team is looking complete. She is on fire again this season and her incredible consistency continues to be admired. With her nice shooting range and outstanding temperament on the floor, Bourges will look to her to carry their challenge. The French national team performer also has an eye on having a big EuroLeague Women and LFB season, with the FIBA Women's EuroBasket on home soil next summer.

Courtney Williams - Galatasaray

 
Opinion seems to be mixed about Galatasaray's prospects this season, with some people expecting a tilt at the Final Four, while others are casting serious doubts on whether they can even make it out of their Group. Surely their chances are increased with Williams on board, since the guard has erupted in the Turkish League and already cemented herself as the go-to player. She is netting more than 17 points per game and just short of a super 6 assists per outing too. It may be her first EuroLeague Women campaign, but that won't stop her making a big splash. 

Sandrine Gruda - Famila Schio

 
The French veteran has been rolling back the years with some outstanding displays for Famila Schio during the early part of the Italian League season. She has picked up multiple MVP awards in games, showing all the class that has defined her career. Very much picking up the baton from the 2019-20 shortened season when she made the All EuroLeague Women First Team, the star looks ready to be the centerpiece of Schio's challenge once again.

Arike Ogunbowale - Dynamo Kursk

 
Another debutante for the 2020-21 season at this level, Ogunbowale showed what she can do on European soil last season in EuroCup Women with Orman Genclik. Since then, she has topped the WNBA scoring charts and underlined the offensive damage she is capable of inflicting on those tasked with guarding her. She is a major piece of the Dynamo Kursk jigsaw in the wake of their roster reboot. Exciting, dynamic and fun to watch, you can expect Ogunbowale to light up the highlights reel.

Marica Gajic - Perfumerias Avenida

After two extraordinary rebounding performances for Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as plenty of buckets in the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2021 Qualifiers, Gajic is ready to make an impact at club level with Avenida. The forward harvested a massive 17 points and 18 boards per game in the window, a perfect step as we move towards the EuroLeague Women bubble. 

Marine Johannes - LDLC ASVEL Feminin

 
Even for a top drawer player like Johannes, known for her scoring and creative ability, it's been a remarkable start to the LFB season in France. She has reminded us all that she is determined to be the main offensive weapon of LDLC ASVEL Feminin, highlighted by the fact she has never averaged so many buckets at any previous stage. She is currently averaging almost 18 points per game in the French League.

Frida Eldebrink - Spar Girona

The experienced guard was terrific for her country in the recent FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2021 Qualifiers window and is now playing some of the best basketball of her distinguished career. She stood out in the EuroLeague Women Qualifier against ACS Sepsi-Sic has also displayed some nice form for Girona in the Spanish League. She is averaging double-digits, pointing to the expectation that Eldebrink will be a decisive factor during the EuroLeague Women hub.

FIBA