Who is leading the race for EuroLeague Women MVP?
MUNICH (Germany) - With the Regular Season in the books and the Quarter-Finals coming up, the race to become the EuroLeague Women MVP is heating up.
MUNICH (Germany) - With the Regular Season in the books and the Quarter-Finals coming up, the race to become the EuroLeague Women MVP is heating up.
Our expert panel has ranked the top candidates into four tiers, the frontrunners, other contenders, as well as candidates who have an outside chance and those who deserve an honorable mention.
1. Gabby Williams - Sopron Basket
SMALL FORWARD
Height: 1.80m
Date of Birth: September 9, 1996 (24 years old)
Statistics: 16.5 PPG; 4.2 RPG; 3.2 APG; 2.2 STL
It's been a stunning and flawless campaign so far for Sopron Basket and they're now gunning to reach a third Final Four in four years. Williams has been a driving force in her first season at the club and the energetic small forward has already committed to extending her stay to 2022. Whether it is scoring, creating, rebounding or setting the tone defensively, she has been a real colossus so far.
2. Katie Lou Samuelson - Perfumerias Avenida
SHOOTING GUARD / SMALL FORWARD
Height: 1.92m
Date of Birth: June 13, 1997 (23 years old)
Statistics: 18.8 PPG; 5.2 RPG
A EuroLeague Women rookie, the first season for Samuelson in the competition has been a memorable one so far. She has been a leading light for Perfumerias Avenida in moving to the Quarter-Finals with an eye-catching perfect 6-0 record. Now she is tasked with taking them to their first Final Four for a decade, which will require extracting revenge on Spar Girona, who beat them in the Copa De La Reina Final.
3. Kayla McBride - Fenerbahce Oznur Kablo
SMALL FORWARD
Height: 1.80m
Date of Birth: June 25, 1992 (28 years old)
Statistics: 19.5 PPG; 3.7 RPG; 3.5 APG
It has arguably been McBride's best ever EuroLeague Women campaign with the versatile wing player a model of consistency during the Regular Season hubs. She has left her mark in multiple categories and with 19.5 points per game, she's the leading scorer in this season's tournament. But it's been her all around play that has put Fenerbahce in a great position to make an eagerly anticipated return to Final Four.
4. Marine Johannes - LDLC ASVEL FEMININ
GUARD
Height: 1.85m
Date of Birth: January 21, 1995 (26 years old)
Statistics: 14.3 PPG; 4.7 RPG; 5.8 APG
It's been a highly productive season for the French guard, who has also propelled LDLC ASVEL Feminin to within touching distance of a first ever Final Four with some magical performances. It included a spectacular career-high 38 points against ZVVZ USK Praha, while her 5.8 assists per outing have regularly wowed fans because of her continuing ability to stuff the highlights reel with some outrageously brilliant passes.
5. Emma Meesseman - UMMC Ekaterinburg
POWER FORWARD
Height: 1.92m
Date of Birth: May 13, 1993 (27 years old)
Statistics: 14.0PPG; 3.3 RPG; 4.0 APG
It's always tough to pick out someone from the reigning champions due to their star-laden roster, but Meesseman showed her skills nicely when back in action during the second part of an unbeaten Regular Season. Not least, with her passing ability that harvested 4 assists per game. She has emerged as the UMMC player with momentum and one that could be the difference-maker in the Quarter-Finals and most likely, beyond.
Satou Sabally - PF/C / 1.90m / 1998
Statistics: 13.4 PPG; 9.2 RPG; 2.0 APG
Jonquel Jones - C / 1.98m / 1994
Statistics: 14.5 PPG; 73.5% FG; 7.5 RPG
Epiphanny Prince - G / 1.75m / 1988
Statistics: 16.8 PPG; 50% FG; 3.5 REB; 3.0 APG / 2.3 SPG / 17.5 EFF
Alina Iagupova - SF / 1.86m / 1992
Statistics: 17.7 PPG; 8.3 RPG; 3.7 APG; 22.3 EFF
Courtney Vandersloot - PG / 1.73m / 1989
Statistics: 8.3 PPG;2.7 RPG; 7.2 APG
Sonja Vasic - F / 1.89m / 1989
Statistics: 13.6 PPG; 4.4 RPG; 2.9 APG
Tiffany Hayes - G / 1.78m / 1989
Statistics: 16.8 PPG; 4.7 RPG; 2.0 APG
Arike Ogunbowale - G / 1.73m / 1997
Statistics: 16.5 PPG; 2.2 RPG; 3.7 APG
Jelena Brooks - F / 1.90m / 1989
Statistics: 15.2 PPG; 5.3 RPG
Alysha Clark - SF / 1.81m / 1987
Statistics: 13.8 PPG; 51% FG; 5.0 RPG
Breanna Stewart - PF / 1.91m / 1994
Statistics: 12.3 PPG; 4.8 RPG; 2.5 APG
FIBA