As Aristotle stated, “Nature abhors a vacuum,” and the world of basketball is comparable.
Simply forward of Sport 1 of the 2024 WNBA Finals, the very best and most fun ladies’s basketball competitors in Europe—EuroLeague Girls—concluded it’s first week of video games. Listed here are three takeaways from these contests:
Don’t overlook Žabiny Brno
The American frontcourt duo of Stephanie Kostowicz and Elissa Cunane is becoming in properly on the Czech vice-champions, Žabiny Brno. The Woman Frogs have been second-best of their nation for 3 years in a row now, however throughout Week 1 they performed like world-beaters, sharing the ball and making shot after shot. Žabiny beat Olympiacos 92-61. Cunane had 17 factors and 9 rebounds, whereas Kostowicz had 10 factors, 10 rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Speaking to Swish Enchantment after the sport, Kostowicz prompt that the underdog standing could have contributed to the general efficiency:
Coach informed us within the locker room earlier than the sport that we had been ranked sixteenth out of 16 groups within the EuroLeague. Possibly that lit a fireplace below us or perhaps it took away the strain. However 30 assists and 16-for-27 from 3 made for a really enjoyable recreation!
Janelle Salaün can do all of it
Not like her youthful brother Tidjane, who was choose No. 6 general by the Charlotte Hornets within the 2024 NBA Draft, Janelle Salaün was neglected by the WNBA. She performed an vital function for France through the Olympics and now throughout EuroLeague Girls Week 1, enjoying on a brand new staff and in a special nation, she delivered top-of-the-line performances of her profession: 24 factors, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 steals. Essentially the most spectacular half about that statline is that 18 of her 24 factors got here from 3-pointers; she was 6-of-10 from lengthy distance. Her squad, Beretta Familia Schio, beat Perfumerias Avenida 92-58.
Rosters change, Turkish groups preserve profitable
Fenerbahçe Opet and Çukurova Basketbol Mersin made the EuroLeague Girls Last 4 final 12 months, and Fener repeated as champions, led by Napheesa Collier and Kayla McBride, who may end up the season as WNBA champions with the Minnesota Lynx, too. Fenerbahçe can be with out it’s two American stars this season, however they’ve their mainstay in Emma Meesseman. She’s aided by newcomer Gabby Williams and WNBA veteran Tina Charles, who has returned to Fener after 10 years. Of their first recreation in opposition to Villeneuve d’Ascq LM, they received 81-52. Meesseman was her unimaginable self, scoring, rebounding and passing, whereas Charles had 18 factors coming off the bench.
Mersin added the duo of Yvonne Anderson and Natasha Howard, who each began final season at Fenerbahçe, and so they received their first recreation in opposition to Tango Bourges Basket 77-66. The perfect efficiency of the evening got here from Iliana Rupert, who scored 20 factors and grabbed 9 boards.
Week 1 scores
Group A
Basket Landes 55, DVTK HUN-Therm Miskolc 54
Beretta Famila Schio 92, Avenida 58
Group B
Žabiny Brno 92, Olympiacos B.C. 61
Çukurova Basketbol Mersin 77, Tango Bourges Basket 66
Group C
Casademont Zaragoza 76, KGHM BC Polkowice 73
Fenerbahçe Opet 81, Villeneuve-d’Ascq LM 52
Group D
Valencia Basket Membership 80, ZVVZ USK Praha 62
Umana Reyer Venezia 80, UNI Győr 59
