10 of the best signings of the EuroLeague Women off-season

MUNICH (Germany) - There's been plenty of activity by clubs in the market, as usual during the EuroLeague Women off-season, with a vast number of exciting and intriguing moves completed.

Ahead of the new Regular Season campaign tipping off, here's a selection of what could prove to be some of the best moves around. You also have the opportunity below to vote on which signing is the best

Astou Ndour - Umana Reyer Venezia

 
CENTER

Height: 1.98cm / 6ft 6in
Date of Birth: August 22, 1994

After winning that epic Italian Championship last season to gain direct entry into the competition, Reyer Venezia managed to hold on to many of their players but have needed to replace the influential Temi Fagbenle. So, what better way to fill it than with the super Ndour? She was excellent for Spain this past summer and especially in Tokyo. Her athleticism, extended shooting range, scoring power and rebounding will be really important and Venezia have another top drawer and go-to player.

Amanda Zahui - Fenerbahce

 

POWER FORWARD

Height: 1.96cm / 6ft 6in 
Date of Birth: September 8, 1993

After things never went according to plan with Dynamo Kursk during her previous stint in the tournament, it feels like Zahui has a real chance to turn the page by being with a top team like Fenerbahce. If she settles and plays the kind of basketball she did in Sopron for example, good things are on the horizon. She has that knack of being able to take her defenders to the perimeter and knock down threes or make space inside for others. Meanwhile in the wider context, it's great for fans to welcome back a big personality to EuroLeague Women.

Barbora Balintova - ZVVZ USK Praha

 

POINT GUARD

Height: 1.79cm / 5ft 10in
Date of Birth: December 15, 1994

This just looks a typically smart appointment for ZVVZ USK Praha as they look to continue their run as one of the most dominant teams in recent years. So smart, such an unselfish leader, Balintova looks like she will fit perfectly into the rotation of experienced and legendary playcaller Natalia Hejkova. The playmaker was outstanding with VBW Arka Gdynia and showed why she has constantly been on of the most underrated guards in Europe, but by making this move, she could end up getting a deserved shot at making the Final Four. 

Marianna Tolo - Basket Landes

 

CENTER

Height: 1.96cm / 6ft 6in 
Date of Birth: July 2, 1989

It has been a long time since the towering frame of Tolo was seen in the competition. Indeed, you have to push the rewind button all the way back to the 2014-15 season. While she did spend a year in Eurocup Women in Kayseri, the center has mainly played in her homeland of Australia. She demonstrated with some strong individual displays at the Tokyo Olympics just what EuroLeague Women has been missing, and Basket Landes will definitely benefit from her size and experience at both ends of the floor. 

Olivia Epoupa - BLMA

 

POINT GUARD

Height: 1.64cm / 5ft 5in 
Date of Birth: April 30, 1994

After only a few months into her career with BLMA, the livewire point guard has already landed silverware and that will give Epoupa a boost after a summer that was disrupted by injury. It caused her to miss out on most of the FIBA Women's EuroBasket and ruined her dreams of playing at Tokyo 2020. With a new French NT playcaller incoming, she will want to cement her place for these next three critical years building up to Paris 2024 and being able to compete again on the big stage in EuroLeague Women will be essential. BLMA can make the most of her quickness and athleticism as she re-takes to the floor in this tournament for the first time since the 2017-18 season.

Tina Krajisnik - Galatasaray

 

CENTER

Height: 1.90cm / 6ft 3in 
Date of Birth: January 12, 1991

There is little doubt that Galatasaray have signed one of the most consistent and impressive performers of these past years in the competition. Krajisnik has been terrific during her time with Sopron and it is no coincidence that her presence has collided with their most successful time in EuroLeague Women. A reigning FIBA Women's EuroBasket champion, she will be a big favorite with the Galatasaray fans, taking a winning mentality and able to form a hard-nosed twin towers option with Anete Steinberga.

Kitija Laksa - Beretta Famila Schio

 

SMALL FORWARD

Height: 1.86cm / 6ft 1in
Date of Birth: May 21, 1996

The Latvian national team star has wasted little time in showing how she could be a big 'X-Factor' baller for Schio in th wake of her switch from TTT Riga. Likely to play a defensive game and make life difficult for their opponents, Schio will need someone like Laksa to step into tight games and be a momentum-shifter. She shot the ball very nicely in the recent Qualifiers to help her new club make the Regular Season and made the All-Star Five.

Nika Baric - Dynamo Kursk

 

GUARD

Height: 1.69cm / 5ft 7in 
Date of Birth: September 2, 1992

Stepping out with Elazig last season in EuroCup Women when the guard helped the Turkish debutantes record a historic run to the Quarter-Finals, Baric is back in Kursk where she played in 2019-20. It feels like a return to take care of some unfinished business and it's going to be a huge couple of years or so for her, with Slovenia hosting the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2023. For this year ahead though, it's focused on showing her scoring and creating ability with the Russian side. 

Bria Hartley - Fenerbahce

 

POINT GUARD

Height: 1.76cm / 5ft 9in 
Date of Birth: September 30, 1992

After her long-term ACL injury which she sustained last year, it's been a tough road back for Hartley, but she will make an eagerly awaited return to EuroLeague Women with Fenerbahce. Even more eagerly awaited since she played for them back in the 2018-19 season and then controversially switched to bitter city rivals Galatasaray. Now ready to make the return journey across the Bosphorus, it will be interesting to see if she can recapture the form of her first spell with Fenerbahce. There is also the added question of whether she will regain the naturalized slot she lost to Gabby Williams while sidelined for the French national side.

Ana-Marija Begic - VBW Arka Gdynia

 

POWER FORWARD

Height: 1.91cm / 6ft 3in
Date of Birth: January 17, 1994

It remains to be seen if VBW Arka Gdynia can compete as they would like to in EuroLeague Women, since the Polish champions played well last season in the bubbles, but perhaps without getting the results they probably deserved. They have made roster changes and one of the incoming ballers who has a big job to do is Begic. Her mobility, passing and shooting range give a nice balance to the more rugged and agressive style of Artemis Spanou alongside her. While Begic might not always be a dominant player, she has shown how important her contributions are with the Croatian national team and she now has the chance of playing EuroLeague Women for the first time.  

FIBA