Focus on Final Four: ZVVZ USK Prague
EKATERINBURG (EuroLeague Women) - We’re checking in with the quartet of clubs who are getting ready to land in Ekaterinburg for the EuroLeague Women Final Four and ZVVZ USK Prague are first on the list.
EKATERINBURG (EuroLeague Women) - We're checking in with the quartet of clubs who are getting ready to land in Ekaterinburg for the EuroLeague Women Final Four and ZVVZ USK Prague are first on the list.
The History: When it comes to appearing in the Final Four, it has been nothing short of a fairy tale in recent years. Having appeared previously at the Final Eight, they hosted the Final Four in 2015 when they made the cut for the first time.
The Game: ZVVZ USK Prague will play the unbeaten Dynamo Kursk in the Semi-Finals. Both clubs met twice during the Regular Season, with Prague losing 69-66 on the road and then 73-49 at home.
The Latest: Shooting guard Katerina Elhotova has been out for the whole season on maternity leave, but the Czech Republic national team star has recently returned to the floor and that gives her team a huge boost – especially offensively, where she can be a game-winner. This will also be the last two games in EuroLeague Women for Spanish legend Laia Palau, who has more assists than any other player in the competition's history.
Danger Sources: When it comes to the starting five and their leading players, Prague have just as much talent as a combined unit, than anyone else. Their all-Spanish backcourt of Palau and Marta Xargay is as hard as nails and they can really control the tempo and shut down the opposition. Candice Dupree has been on fire in the paint of late, while Kia Vaughn is a defensive colossus and former Final Four MVP. But as always, their prospects lie in the hands of Serbian sensation, Sonja Petrovic. She pulls it all together in the three spot and can do it all for her team. If she is on form, then Prague could be in business – and especially with the added injection of firepower from the returning Elhotova.
The Coach: Prague have the greatest coach in EuroLeague Women history in Natalia Hejkova. She has reached the Final Four a jaw-dropping 13 times and made the Final five times – rather staggeringly, winning every one of them! Nobody in the women's game can compete with that kind of stellar resume.
The Key Stat: Prague are shooting 34.4% from three-point range and that is bettered by the other three clubs in the Final Four, who are more deadly from downtown.
The Key Questions: The re-introduction of Elhotova is on paper at least, a potentially huge bonus, but can the bench players all perform, because their starting five is stacked with quality but they aren’t quite as deep as other Final Four teams? Can Vaughn avoid foul trouble but still be aggressive and get her offensive game back in tune? Have Prague re-discovered their best form after a wobble at the end of the Regular Season and will that Final Four magic re-appear for Coach Hejkova?
The Social Media Track: Hook up to Spanish guard Marta Xargay on Instagram via martaxargay or maybe the 2015 EuroLeague Women MVP, Kia Vaughn on Twitter @KIA_VAUGHN
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