Our top 10 must-watch players at Final Round

MUNICH (Germany) - As Latvia and Serbia prepare to co-host what is shaping up to be a mouth-watering FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2019, we've now completed one of the most difficult tasks ever.

Namely, the near-impossible challenge of somehow  having to select our top 10 players to watch from an amazing pool of talent! This list follows on from our recent Top 10 Debutantes list and the Top 12 Young Guns.

Astou Ndour - Spain

History says that reigning champions Spain will probably not defend their precious crown which they won two years ago. After all, it has been almost three decades since any nation did complete that mission. Having missed out on the title success in Prague, Ndour will be more motivated than anyone to excel in this competition. She had to settle for bronze on her last appearance in 2015, but has grown incredibly since then. She made the All-Star Five at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2018 and if she can repeat that kind of scoring and rebounding production, then Spain might just take successive Women's EuroBasket titles after all. 

Emma Meesseman - Belgium

A world-class talent, Meesseman is the heart and soul of a Belgium team who has massive momentum as they look to continue their rapid rise to prominence. She is looking for what would be an incredible third consecutive All-Star Five appearance, having featured in 2017 in the line-up when catapulting Belgium to their historic bronze and then again, when leading her country to the Semi-Finals of the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2018 on their maiden appearance. Throw in a couple of EuroLeague Women titles, Russian domestic silverware galore and her time with WNBA franchise Washington Mystics, and you start to realize just how much she has already achieved. But can she take Belgium to another medal with her scoring, rebounding and leadership? Well, she will certainly have fun trying. 

Alina Iagupova - Ukraine

Probably like us, your heart missed a beat when it was revealed that Iagupova was not on the initial candidate list announced by Ukraine.  All that matters now is that she has been added and during the preparation games, has been pouring in points for fun as usual. Whenever she plays, you can be assured of an extended highlights reel due to her amazing shooting skills, athletic ability and court vision. She is Ukraine and with her in the team and playing well, they will pose a danger to any opponent. And, as if to highlight just how explosive and free-scoring Iagupova actually is - do we think that she could one day drop 40 or even 50 points during a game in this competition? 

Isil Alben - Turkey

When we think of Turkey, you're probably all just like us, the mind goes straight to Isil Alben. A role model and amazing leader for her country for several years, the Galatasaray legend will be even more of an influence and have even more of a task on her hands. This will be the first Final Round in memory when Turkey don't have the retired Nevriye Yilmaz or Birsel Vardarli Demirmen to call upon. Along with Alben, that was a formidable trio in the past, but now 'Captain Fantastic' must help the new generation keep Turkey's hopes of reaching Tokyo 2020 alive. She will direct the traffic in the backcourt and provide the inspiration as always with her skills and her words to her teammates.

Sonja Petrovic - Serbia

Carrying the hopes and dreams of a nation is something Petrovic will take in her stride as Serbia look to make the most of home advantage and fan power. Her return from a lengthy national team hiatus collided with Serbia's maiden title in 2015 and she will be the go-to player at this edition. The forward, who has signed with Spar Citylift Girona for 2019-20 is one of the most respected players in the world and that is due to her lengthy skill-set and leadership. If you want an MVP performance, she can bring it and most importantly, if someone else has the hot-hand in a game, Petrovic will be happy to sit back and provide the all-important cameo. It is that classy approach, intelligence and talent that has seen her spend almost an entire career competing at EuroLeague Women Final Four and winning fans not only in her homeland, but globally. 

Cecilia Zandalasini - Italy

Before her Final Round debut two years ago, those who had followed Zandalasini at youth level knew she would make an impact. But maybe even the player herself could not have dreamed of how well it would go in terms of her individual contributions. She was absolutely incredible in every way and so much so, a couple of months later she found herself winning a WNBA Championship at the Minnesota Lynx who had called her up off the back of those eye-catching outings. Ultimately, it ended in tears for Zandalasini and Italy as they were pipped by Latvia in dramatic circumstances for the last ticket to the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup. Her return to Final Round (assuming she gets over a worrying injury in preparation). will feel like unfinished business. We're expecting her to light it up on across all the various stat lines at this edition!

Kristine Vitola - Latvia

Without the services of the now retired Gunta Basko-Melnbarde, the injured Kitija Laksa, absent Anete Steinberga and the not yet naturalized Shey Peddy, the burden on the shoulders of Vitola will be huge. Co-hosts Latvia have been hit hard in terms of personnel and their dreams of progressing look like they hang in the balance. Their biggest hope is surely the continued fine form of Vitola, who has impressed in the preparation games having helped propel TTT Riga to an amazing season in EuroLeague Women. Next year she is heading back to Perfumerias Avenida, but before she does, her task is to put some big numbers up for her nation. She must score big, do the work on the glass and defensively, keep out of foul trouble. Yes, Vitola is set to play one of the most important roles for any team in this tournament!

Marine Johannes - France

Is Johannes over-hyped or is she the real-deal at the very top level? She is a brilliant player, that much is true and there are few, if any, more entertaining players in the global game - hence the excitement at her pending move to the New York Liberty and a WNBA debut soon. She packs the highlights reel every time she takes to the hard wood with her amazing buckets from all angles and seemingly impossible assists. With France slated for a fourth consecutive podium, she will be a driving force. However, will she be able to now show leadership and produce her best basketball when the heat and pressure is on?  France have been rocked by injuries to some leading lights and it means Johannes has to bring it - not only as the number one entertainer, but also to deliver the big plays at the biggest moments.

Anastasiya Verameyenka - Belarus

Verameyenka is on path to confirming her status as a legend of Belarusian basketball and one of the best European players of the last 10-12 years. If you want a measure of her capabilities, which are so often overlooked, then consider that she is just one single swat away from becoming the leading shot-blocker in EuroLeague Women history! That is an incredible accomplishment and underlines her defensive capabilities. Although during the Qualifiers and just like she has done throughout her career, the forward showed her importance at both ends of the floor. If her country wants to survive in the 'Group of Death' she holds the key, with her ice-cold composure during the biggest moments. She returns having missed the 2017 edition. 

Maria Vadeeva - Russia

A 'machine at 16' when she debuted at this event, this is Final Round number three for Vadeeva. She has been phenomenal for Russia during the preparation games with some stunning double-doubles and they will be relying on her to continue that great form. Of course those displays came off the back of a career night in the WNBA with the Los Angeles Sparks before she returned to Europe recently. A colossus and potentially unstoppable, she is the jewel in the crown of a Russia team determined to re-discover their winning DNA of the past in this competition. 

FIBA