MUNICH (Germany) - The EuroLeague Women Qualifiers will tip off next week, providing an opportunity for some of the league's stars to be the true difference-makers for their clubs.
Here are eight leading players who could be the ones that are instrumental in catapulting their respective teams into the Regular Season.
Holly Winterburn - Besiktas JK
Guard
Birth Date: October 1, 2000 (23 years old) Height: 1.80m (5ft 11in) Nationality: GBR
Now one of the leaders of the Great Britain national team, the guard is looking to cement her blossoming reputation by locking down a first ever place in the EuroLeague Women Regular Season. Last year it didn't work out as she suited up with London Lions and exited at this stage.
Winterburn bounced back to carry Lions to historic EuroCup Women silverware and ironically beat her new team Besiktas JK in the Final. Her stellar performances helped lock down a move to Istanbul. She will be the leading light and will have a lot on her shoulders in these games. She will be expected to carry the main scoring threat.
Leila Lacan - Basket Landes
Guard
Birth Date: June 2, 2004 (20 years old) Height: 1.81m (5ft 11in) Nationality: FRA
It's great for Landes fans and basketball fans in general to be able to enjoy an Olympic silver medalist in these Qualifiers who is also one of the most exciting young talents on the continent. Lacan showed her potential with France last year at the FIBA Women's EuroBasket and continued her great work at Paris 2024.
At club level, she played last season in EuroCup Women with Angers and impressed greatly, so she is another player chasing a first taste of the EuroLeague Women Regular Season. Super smart, always active and in the game, she's a great watch and will no doubt become a huge favorite in Mont-de-Marsan.
Mariona Ortiz - Casademont Zaragoza
Guard
Birth Date: February 28, 1992 (32 years old) Height: 1.82m (6ft 0in) Nationality: ESP
The experienced guard produced one of her most memorable seasons during 2023-24, which proved to be one of the central pillars that supported a historic and fabulous rookie season for Casademont Zaragoza. Ortiz was the main operator in the backcourt and came up with plenty of memorable moments.
Not only that, but defensively is likely to be where she will prosper and focus the most to set the tone as usual. The fans love and appreciate her work and she won accolades last year - including Best Spanish Player of the domestic league. Getting her back on board is a big tick in the box if Zaragoza wants to advance.
Emma Cechova - Zabiny Brno
Center
Birth Date: July 12, 2004 (20 years old) Height: 1.95m (6ft 5in) Nationality: CZE
There is a lot to love about the potential of Cechova. The towering frontcourt ace showed bucket loads of promise as part of a young Czechia team who made people sit up and take notice at the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2023. Most recently she helped her country reach the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 Qualifying Tournaments and was third in efficiency, scoring and rebounding.
With her long reach and ability to challenge so many shots from her opponents, she is useful defensively and is also now upping her production at the offensive end too. This will be her third season in European club competition with Zabiny Brno, having stepped out in EuroCup Women previously.
Luisa Geiselsoder - Basket Landes
Forward
Birth Date: February 10, 2000 (24 years old) Height: 1.90m (6ft 3in) Nationality: GER
The German forward is an anchor for Landes in the paint and was third in efficiency, scoring and rebounding for the French club across the 2023-24 Regular Season. But most impressive is arguably her shot selection and finishing which is rarely rushed or off - something that helped her drop more than 46 percent from the field.
She has also taken big strides in the international arena too, as part of Germany's rapid rise to the top table. Geiselsoder was an integral part of the team that recorded their best ever finish at the FIBA Women's EuroBasket last year and made history this past summer with their impressive Olympic debut at Paris 2024.
Stephanie Mawuli - Casademont Zaragoza
Forward
Birth Date: November 25, 1998 (25 years old) Height: 1.82m (6ft 0in) Nationality: JPN
A star of the Japan national team, there is going to be even more interest in EuroLeague Women from the other side of the world if Casademont Zaragoza are able to make the Regular Season. Mawuli is an established leader for the Akatsuki Five and has played in all the biggest tournaments for her country - including Paris this year.
Her athleticism and strength slashing to the hoop should entertain the fans, with the home supporters already aware of her talents from last season when she balled in the Spanish League and EuroCup Women with Estudiantes. This probably means very little is needed in terms of an adjustment period at Zaragoza.
Sara Bejedi - TARR KSC Szekszard
Guard
Birth Date: June 18, 2000 (24 years old) Height: 1.63m (5ft 4in) Nationality: FIN
If TARR KSC Szekszard are to book their place back in the EuroLeague Women Regular Season after a year's absence, then surely the contribution of the Finnish guard is going to be fundamental. Bejedi is playing in her first pro-season since coming out of the NCAA and it will be intriguing to see how she performs.
Her Hungarian club have big expectations and she certainly impressed when playing with Florida State University. She has not played in any Qualifiers for Finland while Stateside so it will be fascinating to see if she can also have an impact for her country in coming FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025 windows too.
Destiny Slocum - Basket Landes
Guard
Birth Date: September 9, 1997 (26 years old) Height: 1.80m (5ft 11in) Nationality: USA
The guard caught the eye with Uni Gyor in the 2023-24 campaign, with more than 12 points and 5 assists per outing during the Regular Season. She also put herself on the radar more by winning the best play at the prestigious EuroLeague Women Awards.
She will bring tenacity for Landes in the backcourt and be able to potentially help with the all-important task of shutting down Holly Winterburn of Besiktas. If Landes do make it, she will play a similar role as she did at Gyor, while Slocum has previous Qualifiers after just missing out when wearing Botas SK colors two years ago.
FIBA