MVP Meesseman headlines EuroLeague Women Awards winners

PRAGUE (Czech Republic) - The winners of the EuroLeague Women Awards have been handed their accolades in a special Awards Ceremony at Final Four in Prague, with Emma Meesseman of Fenerbahce Alagoz Holding crowned MVP. 

Organized for the very first time, the ceremony took place at the Letensky Chateau in the heart of Prague and was hosted by former France international Diandra Tchatchouang.

The event was attended by the likes of FIBA Europe President Turgay Demirel, FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis, FIBA Executive Director Europe Kamil Novak and FIBA Hall of Fame member Hana Horakova, who presented the awards.

The winners of the awards were determined by a combination of EuroLeague Women coaches, team captains, selected media and also the fans who cast their votes in the lead up to the season finale.

Most Valuable Player: Emma Meesseman (Fenerbahce Alagoz Holding)

Belgian ace Meesseman has shown her class throughout the campaign for Fenerbahce and averaged a stellar 15.6 points , 62 percent field goal percentage, 6.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists and is undefeated in her 14 EuroLeague Women games this season, with a performance efficiency valuation of 22.6.

After picking up the prestigious awards she said: "It's an honor but it's not the reason I do it. I just love basketball. It's a passion and I just love the people I play with and that is why I play. Thanks to the people that voted - it's another reason to continue doing what I am doing.

"Also, everyone knows there are a lot of sacrifices to make and my family have always supported me doing it and I thank them too," added Meesseman.

The forward squeezed out ZVVZ USK Praha standout Alyssa Thomas for the MVP honors, with CBK Mersin Yenisehir Bld guard Chelsea Gray taking third place. 

All-EuroLeague Women First Team

Backcourt

Chelsea Gray (CBK Mersin Yenisehir Bld)
Yvonne Anderson (Tango Bourges Basket)

Frontcourt

Breanna Stewart (Fenerbahce Alagoz Holding)
Alyssa Thomas (ZVVZ USK Praha)
Emma Meesseman (Fenerbahce Alagoz Holding)

Leading the All-EuroLeague Women First Team, Meesseman is joined in the frontcourt by her Fenerbahce colleague Breanna Stewart who has averaged 20.4 points, 8.2 rebounds. 2.1 assists and a performance efficiency valuation of 24.3 this season. Alyssa Thomas completes a top level trio in the paint, having propelled ZVVZ USK Praha to success this season with some super displays that have harvested 16.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 2.2 steals per outing, with a sparkling performance efficiency valuation of 24.8.

The backcourt is led by Chelsea Gray who has been instrumental in delivering a maiden Final Four for CBK Mersin Yenisehir Bld. She brought a sweet mix of scoring and creative power with 16.3 points and 6.3 assists. She lines up alongside Yvonne Anderson of Tango Bourges Basket who took the French club to the Quarter-Finals with 16.4 points and 4.1 assists per game. 

All-EuroLeague Women Second Team

Backcourt

Alina Iagupova (Fenerbahce Alagoz Holding)
Marina Mabrey (Beretta Famila Schio)

Frontcourt

Jelena Brooks (Sopron Basket)
Raquel Carrera (Valencia Basket Club)
Mariella Fasoula (Perfumerias Avenida)

The backcourt of the All-EuroLeague Women Second Team includes a former two-time MVP in Alina Iagupova of Fenerbahce Alagoz Holding, with Marina Mabrey taking a spot too - having inspired Beretta Famila Schio to a first ever Final Four.

Valencia Basket Club forward Raquel Carrera, Perfumerias Avenida center Mariella Fasoula and the experienced Jelena Brooks of Sopron Basket make up the frontcourt selection in the Second Team.

Defensive Player of the Year: Alyssa Thomas (ZVVZ USK Praha)

While the focus has regularly been on the offensive production of Alyssa 'Triple-Double' Thomas, the defensive work of the forward has also been recognized with this award. A lock-down defender who can guard multiple positions, she has averaged 2.2 steals per game and been a thorn in the side of her opponents all season long. 

Second spot in the voting went to Elizabeth Williams of CBK Mersin Yenisehir Bld, with Ezi Magbegor of Sopron Basket picking up third place in the polling.

Young Player of the Year: Pauline Astier (Tango Bourges Basket)

Continuing the French dominance of this category which has seen the accolade handed to Marine Fauthoux and Iliana Rupert, it's now the turn of Astier to be honored for her superb work. The guard has had an eye-catching season with Tango Bourges Basket, helping them to make the last eight of the competition, with the rising star contributing 6.8 points, 2.2 assists and 2.1 rebounds per outing.

Astier edged out fellow guard and rising star Elena Buenavida of Valencia Basket Club who took second place, with Melinda Miklos of Atomeromu KSC Szkeszard taking third.

Coach of the Year: Georgios Dikaioulakos (Beretta Famila Schio)

It has been a fairytale season for Beretta Famila Schio, with Dikaioulakos getting the nod for Coach of the Year by delivering a slice of history. The Greek playcaller masterminded a first Final Four ticket for Schio, helped by some outstanding team work from his side and an unbeaten home record. Schio were also the first Italian club to make it to the Semi-Finals in more than two decades.

Dikaioulakos fought off strong competition from Ruben Burgos of Valencia Basket Club and Marina Maljkovic of Fenerbahce Alagoz Holding who finished second and third respectively. 

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