EuroLeague Women Power Rankings, Volume 3

MUNICH (Germany) - With six games of the EuroLeague Women Regular Season in the books, there's been plenty to pour over and discuss which makes it an ideal time for the third volume of the Power Rankings.

Taking into account results and performances, comparing those against expectations and considering the second volume, here's how things are shaping up heading into the last gameday of 2022. 

1. Fenerbahce Alagoz Holding (+3)

Season Record: 4-2

Has the real Fenerbahce Alagoz Holding just stood up? This is certainly more like pre-season expectations and after four wins in a row, they're finally looking like the favorites. Better late than never. But as soon as Emma Meesseman stepped back into the mix, the star quality factor rocketed up and so did performances. Go figure. They're sharing the ball at one end and eating it up with steals at the other. The Marina Maljkovic identity is being imprinted. Will they now keep the number one spot until Final Four arrives? 

2. Perfumerias Avenida  (+3)

Season Record: 5-1

They celebrate the festive Three Kings during early January in Salamanca. But, the seasonal gifts came early for fans of Avenida. Not only a 5-1 record, but also the arrival of Bridget Carleton, who was exceptional on her debut against Sopron, plus Michaela Nne Onyenwere who will also be a force. Roberto Iniguez is a maestro at making sure promises are maintained, but on the flip-side, now he has this level of depth, talent, energy and teamwork, the expectation will firmly be a trip back to yet another Final Four. Looking good!

3. ZVVZ USK Praha   (-3)

Season Record: 4-2

When it comes to the final shake-up and season finale, will 'The Great December wobble' even be remembered? You know, that time when Praha lost twice in a row... They could have beaten Fenerbahce and Polkowice and been sat 6-0. But their lack of depth and form  in the backcourt outside of Teja Oblak was exposed - along with some terrible team defense. The return of Brionna Jones is a big boost alongside Alyssa Thomas and with Temi Fagbenle signing, they're as good as anybody in the frontcourt. Still title material. 

What a season it has turned out to be for BC Polkowice who have lost only once

4. BC Polkowice  (+7)

Season Record: 5-1

Frame it Polkowice fans! It's a Power Rankings Final Four dreamland right now. Just a hot-start and their 'luck' would soon run out? Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. They're ballin' like primetime Sparta&K MR Vidnoje and picking off the big scalps: ZVVZ USK Praha and Tango Bourges Basket on the road, Fenerbahce at home. Steph Mavunga is a colossus almost very game, Artemis Spanou is in some kind of warrior zone, Erica Wheeler has fitted back in like she never left and Zala Friskovec is a clear and present danger. What is not to love?

5. Sopron Basket  (-3)

Season Record: 4-2

It's unlikely the Sopron management and the now departed Brittney Sykes will be exchanging Christmas cards after her controversial departure. That hurt more because she was on fire and the main flame behind a super Sopron start. An implosion at home to Avenida was maybe a wake-up call and after the SOS was sent to Yvonne Turner, things might now settle down. Ezi Magbegor is flying, while Jelena Brooks is playing like a teenager. Yes a drop, but don't be too down Sopron supporters. There's scope to climb back up!

6. Tango Bourges Basket   (-3)

Season Record: 3-3

Oh my goodness, there have been some tear-jerkers this season at Le Prado for the locals. The narrow losses to Praha and last week Polkowice, too, means they probably should be celebrating a 5-1 record. But they really did blow it and it was Poles dancing when the final buzzer sounded. Yvonne Anderson, Kayla Alexander and young Pauline Astier have all been plus points this season, but a Final Four ticket requires others needed to turn up the dial. Yes Bourges are tough, but they need a bit more offensively from some ballers.

Schio are rolling strong and could argue should be even higher up in the rankings after a fabulous 5 wins in 6 games

7. Beretta Famila Schio  (+1)

Season Record: 5-1

Schio were on course for a deserved top five spot until they came close to throwing it away against underdogs Kangoeroes Mechelen. This is tough punishment to have a 5-1 record and only move up a spot. If they feel short-changed, it's understandable. But use this medicine as motivation to continue climbing these rankings. With Jasmine Keys still on a trajectory of a space rocket when it comes to form and improvement, Astou Ndour warming up nicely and others contributing, it's feeling good. Is a Final Four spot coming at last?

8. CBK Mersin Yenisehir Bld  (-2)

Season Record: 3-3

Your head might just explode if you think about the jaw-dropping talent of this starting five and then contrast it with the fact that only Spar Girona shoots the ball worse in the competition. Enter Ekrem Memnun, the Turkey national team playcaller whose experience and renowned defensive specialisms will help. It feels like Mersin still has a gaming console mentality in terms of its roster makeup. But this isn't the Playstation or Xbox when you  just push a reset button and start over, they have already lost half of their games. Wow.

9. Valencia Basket Club  (-)

Season Record: 3-3

So why are Valencia Basket Club not in a post-season slot in the top 8? They now have a staggering five games in a row on the road ahead and that's very challenging, not only from a basketball perspective but also physically and mentally. They also go into it off the back of successive losses for the first time. It feels like a watershed Gameday 7 and Gameday 8 either side of the break. Also, Lauren Cox a contender for an award this season if she continues? Maybe! She should be getting more praise and attention than she is.

It has been a challenging first ever Regular Season for Bologna who have some big talent but a losing record 

10. Virtus Segafredo Bologna   (-3)

Season Record: 2-4

The reality of a first Regular Season is now beginning to bite Virtus and it might bite even harder still. That's because they have Praha next up and so will be in danger of slipping to a possible 2-5 record. That would be quite a distance from the pre-season buzz of their rookie campaign. Yes, they have been without the injured Ivana Dojkic of late, but they need to do better after signing some big talent. Too many turnovers has hurt them and they do have the capacity to beat Praha and spark their season. But the big guns have to fire!

11. Spar Girona  (-1)

Season Record: 3-3

Are the wheels coming off for Girona? Last week's offense broke down with nobody getting into double-figures. They had the brakes put on them by Mersin. Marianna Tolo is their top scorer for the season with 11 points and even the Aussie herself would probably be shocked to be at the top of that chart six games in. The announcement of Brittney Sykes coming in has not yet materialized on the court. It's all looking like it needs fired up somehow for Girona. So maybe a Spanish derby with Avenida next week is what they need!

12. Atomeromu KSC Szekszard   (+1)

Season Record: 3-3

There is nothing more predictable than the unpredictability of women's basketball and Atomeromu in particular. But hey, this is fantasy territory for those Szekszard fans who were sat 0-6 this time last season and never went on to see a win in any of the remaining games at all! To be 50-50 is quite the achievement and credit where it is due to the coaching staff and the players, Ruth Hebard has been great recently but they key? Five different players in double-digits last week when beating Virtus. It's teamwork!

13. DVTK Hun-Therm  (-1)

Season Record: 2-4

It's been a roller-coaster rookie Regular Season for the team from Miskolc. They have racked up a maiden home success, a first ever victory on the road and so have hit a couple of initial targets. They probably wish they could have hit a few more shots last time out against Avenida when they were rolled over worryingly easily. With a wafer-thin roster depth and experience-wise in this competition, losing Milica Jovanovic has been a massive blow. But they're probably where most people thought they would be after six games.

Newcomers Kangoeroes Mechelen have only one win but are competing better than some might have expected

14. Kangoeroes Mechelen   (-)

Season Record: 1-5

While there has only been one historic win so far, Kangoeroes continue to hop and bounce through their first season with positivity and have been able to stand toe to toe with many opponents. So much so, they almost won at the now 5-1 Schio last week and nobody had that one going down to the wire. Morgan Bertsch was superb in that one and in general the team has played well. They are just not good enough on the glass and a lack of size and experience is making it difficult. But they're arguably doing better than most expected.

15. Basket Landes   (-)

Season Record: 1-5

We are six games into the season and Landes are still not averaging even 60 points per outing. That is not sustainable in such an elite competition because even the top 5 defensive ballers of all time would struggle to hold opponents to the numbers required to regularly get wins on the board. And, when they did get their solitary win (credit is due) it took 40-year-old legend Celine Dumerc rolling back the years. Hugely impressive in one way, but also a worry in another. It's turning into a predictably super tough campaign.

16. Olympiacos SFP  (-)

Season Record: 0-6

Ouch, this winless streak hurts. But it has been a familiar story all season long. Megan Gustafson doing the absolute business for her team as a walking double-double and then looking around for some support. It has rarely arrived. Worryingly, the last two games have seen significant loss margins. Valencia at home is next up. Can the team get that elusive win, because heading into 2023 at 0-7 is going to suck real bad. Oh and efficiency wise, Gustafson a mind-blowing 30+, the next best for any teammate? 11.1. Ouch. Ouch, Ouch.

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