MUNICH (Germany) - With the second EuroLeague Women Regular Season hub done and dusted, we take a look at how each club performed against expectation. 

After reviewing the results and performances of all clubs in the January hubs, which saw seven teams clinch tickets to the Play-Offs, and also considering any mitigating factors such as absences, FIBA's women's basketball expert Paul Nilsen lays down the verdicts for all 16 teams involved.

Group A - Salamanca, ESP

Perfumerias Avenida completed their first ever unbeaten Regular Season to make the Quarter-Finals

Perfumerias Avenida  A+ 

Record: 6-0 (1st in Group A)
January Hub Results: v Izmit Belediyespor 101-80; v Nadezhda 93-38; v Dynamo Kursk 79-70; v Izmit Belediyespor 98-72

It's been a dream Regular Season. Another A+ grade is merited since they added to their promising 2-0 record from the first hub with another four victories on their home floor in Salamanca. It was a nice team effort again, with Katie Lou Samuelson the centerpiece. The defense and intensity levels were there for the most part, the depth of rotation showed and a return to the Quarter-Finals for the first time in several seasons was richly deserved. A great job by all.

Dynamo Kursk B+

Record: 2-3 (2nd in Group A)
January Hub Results: v Nadezhda 86-62; v Izmit Belediyespor 65-61; v Perfumerias Avenida 70-79

It was not convincing against Izmit, but like night and day compared to the horror show during the first hub when we handed them a D grade. They looked more coherent and even when Arike Ogunbowale was struggling in the crunch game against Izmit, she pulled it out down the stretch. With good support from Zhosselina Maiga and Steph Mavunga, it was so much better and bodes well for Kursk making the next phase, despite still having a losing record.

Nadezhda  B

Record: 2-3 (3rd in Group A)
January Hub Results: v Dynamo Kursk 62-86; v Pefumerias Avenida 38-93; v Izmit Belediyespor 80-78

It was quite the the roller-coaster ride for Coach Maros Kovacik and his players. Two ugly blowouts and especially when they didn't break 40 points against Avenida, meaning it looked like they were dead and buried. However, to their credit, they dug out a precious success against Izmit off the back of a very nice effort from Elizaveta Komarova and are clinging onto some hope they can still make it through - something which would be an amazing achievement.

Izmit Belediyespor  C+  

Record: 0-4 (4th in Group A)
January Hub Results: v Perfumerias Avenida 80-101; v Dynamo Kursk 61-65; v Nadezhda 78-80; v Perfumerias Avenida 72-98

Still searching for a first ever Regular Season victory, it was a missed opportunity for Izmit. They were always going to struggle in their two matchups with Avenida, but blew a glorious chance to take down Dynamo Kursk, then failed to get over the line against Nadezhda. They should have won at least one of those. Incredibly they could still qualify even from this perilous position at 0-4, but need more than the Erica Wheeler show. Others must step up too.

Group B - Prague, CZE

Fenerbahce Oznur Kablo and their array of stars finished top of Group B

Fenerbahce Oznur Kablo  A

Record: 5-1 (1st in Group B)
January Hub Results: v ZVVZ USK Praha 99-70; v VBW Arka Gdynia 88-57; v LDLC ASVEL Feminin 67-65

After an unconvincing first hub on their own court, this was much better from Victor Lapena and his team. The addition of Alina Iagupova made them look more like the team that looked to be firmly on course for the Final Four last season before it was derailed by the coronavirus. As well as Iagupova having an instant impact, Cecilia Zandalasini has come alive and found some rhythm too and now they looked forward to an epic tie with Galatasaray.

LDLC ASVEL Feminin A-

Record: 4-2 (2nd in Group B)
January Hub Results: v VBW Arka Gdynia 79-76; v ZVVZ USK Praha 85-74; v Fenerbahce Oznur Kablo 65-67

A nice job by the French side; they did struggle to see off Gdynia, but got the win eventually and that's what mattered. They were better against Praha and only just pipped by Fenerbahce in the last game. Perhaps the most satisfying element was another team performance across this hub too. With multiple players contributing, Lyon look like they have the depth and options to potentially make their maiden Final Four. Sopron Basket stand in their way.

ZVVZ USK Praha  B-

Record: 3-3 (3rd in Group B)
January Hub Results: v Fenerbahce Oznur Kablo 70-99; LDLC ASVEL Feminin 74-85; VBW Arka Gdynia 67-80.

Perhaps this might seem harsh considering that Prague went into the second hub without the inspirational Alyssa Thomas who is injured. But it certainly looked like the heart of the team had been ripped out and that they lacked confidence against Fenerbahce in the opener. Yet despite not having Thomas, they still have a hugely talented roster and were at home. Consequently it was disappointing. Only Brionna Jones and Teja Oblak emerged with real credit.

VBW Arka Gdynia  B+

Record: 0-6 (4th in Group B)
January Hub Results: v LDLC ASVEL Feminin 76-79; Fenerbahce Oznur Kablo 57-88; v ZVVZ USK Praha 67-80

If this grade seems generous considering they finished 0-6, the second hub was a repeat of the first when they almost caused some big upsets in what was essentially a 'Group of Death'.  While the wins didn't materialize, Gdynia had Lyon in big trouble for a while and the game was on a knife edge. Alice Kunek was impressive and as a team, Gdynia play hard. In any other group, surely their season record would have looked very different.

Group C - Schio, ITA

Spar Girona made history by going beyond the Regular Season for the first time

UMMC Ekaterinburg  A

Record: 6-0 (1st in Group C)
January Hub Results: v Beretta Famila Schio 74-58; v Spar Girona 90-83; v TTT Riga 90-41

Everyone was looking for UMMC to post an unbeaten Regular Season, with many people also expecting an unbeaten campaign en-route to the top of the podium. They don't quite get an A+ this time as they were pushed hard by Spar Girona, although I suspect that head coach Miguel Mendez will actually be pleased his players had to step up. Emma Meesseman impressed and Brittney Griner was successfully integrated. They showed they're still the team to beat. 

Spar Girona  A

Record: 3-3 (2nd in Group C)
January Hub Results: v TTT Riga 82-52; v UMMC Ekaterinburg 83-90; v Beretta Famila Schio 74-77

It was a momentous night when Spar Girona made history with their first ever post-season place delivered in the most dramatic of circumstances in that narrow defeat against Schio which was enough to send them through. They lived dangerously and could have been left distraught. However, credit that they did it without a big display from Sonja Vasic, while the emergence and productivity of Spanish forward Maria Araujo in this hub is hugely exciting. 

Beretta Famila Schio  B+

Record: 3-3 (3rd in Group C)
January Hub Results: v UMMC Ekaterinburg 58-74; v TTT Riga 78-68; v Spar Girona 77-74

While they did not qualify for the Quarter-Finals, you have to respect Schio were one basket dropping away from doing so. It was predicted their campaign would go down to the wire and that is how it panned out. Natalie Achonwa was huge in this hub, while others contributed in a big way, including Giorgia Sottana. They were nudged out by such a well-matched  rival, who they could play in a 99 game series and it would probably be 50-49 one way or the other.

TTT Riga  C

Record: 0-6 (4th in Group C)
January Hub Results: v Spar Girona 52-82; v Beretta Famila Schio 68-78; v UMMC Ekaterinburg 41-90

It was always going to be difficult for TTT Riga to make an impression in the competition this season and there were no easy groups. This one was challenging and they came into the second hub winless and that is how they left. The battle with Schio was the high point on Italian soil, but there were few positives to take away whatsoever after being blown out twice.  Not deep enough and probably worse than their efforts last December.

Group D - Bourges, FRA

Galatasaray made changes before the second hub and it worked as they reached the Quarter-Finals

Sopron Basket  A+

Record: 6-0 (1st in Group D)
January Hub Results: v Bourges Basket 74-67; v Basket Landes 84-54

Absolutely brilliant. Another A+ grade is fully deserved, since Sopron finished the Regular Season campaign unbeaten as they wrapped it up with two wins in this second hub. Jelena Brooks and Gabby Williams were hugely influential as you would expect. Big credit is due to David Gaspar and his players. It has been a wonderful campaign and there could be more to come as they continue their hunt for a third Final Four place in four seasons.

Galatasaray  A

Record: 3-3 (2nd in Group D)
January Hub Results: v Basket Landes 89-63; v Basket Landes 78-59; v Bourges Basket 80-87; v Bourges Basket 75-65

The alarm sounded after a 0-2 start, so huge credit to Galatasaray for making changes and adding quality. The arrival of Epiphanny Prince and Angel McCoughtry transformed the roster and the wins came with a super 3-1 second hub. It wasn't only the individual displays of their new arrivals, it was the way that Gala played more like a team in general and they could be a real danger as they now look forward to a spectacular Quarter-Final against Fenerbahce.

Bourges Basket  B+

Record: 2-4 (3rd in Group D)
January Hub Results: v Sopron Basket 67-74;  v Galatasaray 87-80; v Galatasaray 65-75; v Basket Landes 92-62

This season always looked a potential struggle without the offensive sparkle of some previous years. After going 0-2 in the first hub, the 2-2 effort on their home court was decent.  They had a particularly fabulous win against Galatasaray and may have even qualified with another. The sight of veteran Isabelle Yacoubou back to her best in  was encouraging -as was young Iliana Rupert in the last game with a massive performance on her return from injury.

Basket Landes  D

Record: 1-5 (4th in Group D)
January Hub Results: v Galatasaray 63-89 ; v Galatasaray 59-78; v Sopron Basket 54-84; v Bourges 62-92

A huge fan of what Basket Landes did in the first hub, this was a disaster as the wheels came flying off. They were brutally dismantled and completely disjointed at both ends of the court in four games. A pale shadow of themselves and with a great chance down the drain, it was a one to forget. They will now have to bounce back from in the LFB and show their true face. It was also not the kind of low note that a legend like Celine Dumerc should have retired from this competition on.

Disclaimer: The team grades are entirely subjective and is in no way a true, accurate ranking systems. All comments are purely those of the author.

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Paul Nilsen

The EuroLeague Women Power Rankings and team grades are put together by our panel, led by FIBA's women's basketball specialist Paul Nilsen. He eats, sleeps and breathes female hoops and is incredibly passionate about the promotion of the women's game at all levels. Paul uses an extensive network of players, coaches, clubs and Federations to shape his work and opinions.