MUNICH (Germany) - As the 2024-25 EuroLeague Women Regular Season prepares to burst into life, the debate about who will finish where during the new campaign is also about to catch fire.
Yes, it's time for the first volume of the Power Rankings that has been compiled by our expert panel and will be updated regularly throughout the season.
They've taken into account roster changes made by the 16 participating clubs, expectations, the all-important draw - as well as the new competition format.
1. Fenerbahce Opet
The reigning champions are probably still the team to beat as they're gunning for a third straight title - something only Sparta&K MR. Vidnoje and UMMC Ekaterinburg have managed in the modern era. There's been some interesting summer roster surgery and their core will be up there with the best in Julie Allemand, Ariel Atkins, Gabby Williams, Marieme Badiane, Emma Meesseman, Tina Charles and Nikolina Milic. Will it be enough to conquer again? Probably, but not definitely. Just crowned SuperCup Women winners again, they labored for long periods until Besiktas lost Nika Muhl.
2. Valencia Basket Club
Each season they're building and more loaded than ever, it probably sounds crazy, but they could win a maiden title despite never having previously made the showpiece Final Four - or Final Six as it now is. The backcourt and wings have so much experience, intense defence and scoring power with Alina Iagupova, Queralt Casas, Alba Torrens and Yvonne Turner. They've transformed their frontcourt rotation with Kayla Alexander, Bernadett Hatar Steph Mavunga and Kristine Vitola. It's looking good on paper and so have they catapulted themselves towards the status of favorites?
3. CBK Mersin
After Paris 2024, the force is with French basketball. Mersin are riding this wave by snapping up a trio of leading lights in Marine Johannes, Marine Fauthoux and Iliana Rupert. That feels like a dynamic foundation to build upon and especially managing to land Yvonne Anderson from arch rivals Fenerbahce. That could be really huge. Karlie Samuelson can shoot the lights out from deep, with depth in the paint from Regan Magarity, Kayla Thornton and Natasha Howard. It's an eclectic mix for Coach Victor Lapena and if chemistry is good, they could be first-time champs.
4. ZVVZ USK Praha
There is a lot to love about Praha. They have massive continuity of an already Final Four worthy roster and have added the always outstanding Brionna Jones. Throw in Isabelle Harrison too and the weakness of not being deep enough is a problem now evaporating. Ezi Magbegor, Valeriane Ayayi, Maite Cazorla, Teja Oblak, Maria Conde to name a few - they are well stacked. So are Praha the dark horses riding in plain sight? Everyone's attention is diverted by Fenerbahce, Valencia and Mersin - so maybe Natalia Hejkova and her ballers come up on the rails and pick up that silverware.
5. Beretta Famila Schio
Two seasons ago, Schio made history by making Final Four and with the expanded Final Six now on offer, they have a bonafide dream of another season showpiece. Giorgios Dikaioulakos continues at the helm and that's great news for the club. The additions of Janelle Salaun, Ivana Dojkic and Kitija Laksa are intriguing and maybe suggest a more up-tempo approach. Certainly scoring should not be an issue, but will the team lose that hard defensive edge? It could be a roller-coaster, but there is little room for error against DVTK, Avenida and Landes in the 'almost a Group of Death.'
6. Perfumerias Avenida
Anna Montanana has taken over and she was a great player in EuroLeague Women so knows first-hand all about expectations. The experience is amazing with Silvia Dominguez and Laura Gil. Meanwhile Mariella Fasoula is back from injury which is immeasurable, Sika Kone could engage beast mode, Iyana Martin Carrion is an exciting young gun, Antonia Delaere will be so important when back from the sidelines and star arrival Arella Guirantes could steal the show. Serbian forward Masa Jankovic is also other solid addition, so they might sneak into Final Six.
7. DVTK HUNTHERM
The Miskolc based side are chasing a 2023-24 repeat of their truly amazing campaign that saw them come so close to a first Final Four. To push the replay button, they have tried using almost identical ingredients by keeping almost the entire roster on board. Only Aleksa Gulbe replacing Darcee Garbin is a major change and that is like for like in many ways. But Gulbe wll have to perform well to match the eye-catching contributions of her predecessor. Meanwhile Reka Lelik and Kaila Charles need to also hit the heights again to overcome what could be a balanced and tricky Group A.
8. Umana Reyer Venezia
Back in EuroLeague Women after competing in EuroCup Women across the past few years, this is an exciting chance for Reyer to show they can go toe to toe with the best on the Continent. They have a great mix of youth and experience, including competition rookies like Matilde Villa and Awak Kuier at one end and seasoned pros at this level like Dragana Stankovic and Kamiah Smalls. An early domestic SuperCup in the trophy cabinet is a great sign. Much will hinge on how the Italian supporting cast plays - ballers such as Lorela Cubaj, Francesca Pan and Martina Fassina.
9. Casademont Zaragoza
It would have to be an extraordinary effort to get anywhere near the heights of their fairytale first season in the competition - a historic and amazing year that will live long in the memory. But anything is possible and with the backing of one of the biggest and loudest fan bases in the competition, they could still make their home floor a fortress. The loss of marquee baller Leonie Fiebich is a disappointment, but there are opportunities for others to pick up the inspiration torch. Plus, they'll be confident of success against Villeneuve d'Ascq LM and KGHM BC Polkowice.
10. Villeneuve d'Ascq LM
It would be amazing if they made Final Six this year, maybe more so than that first Final last season. Rachid Meziane is a great coach but not a magician, so it looks unlikely. They have lost some of their biggest talents in the likes of Janelle Salaun, Kariata Diaby and Kamiah Smalls who fuelled that historic run. An injury to Caroline Heriaud hasn't helped either, so there might be a few fires to fight. We will get an early repeat of the 2024 title game which will tell us more and the veteran expertise of Kelsey Bone and Helena Ciak will be priceless alongside exciting young gun Carla Leite.
11. Tango Bourges Basket
It's difficult to predict after losing the amazing leadership and defense of the retired Sarah Michel Boury which is a tough pill to swallow. There are valid question marks about the quality and depth of the roster compared to past EuroLeague Women seasons, so the players have a point to prove. Pauline Astier must rise up out of necessity in the backcourt. Incoming duo Amy Okonwko and Kariata Diaby alongside Artemis Spanou certainly give Bourges a hard-nosed edge in the paint. Fortunately they've also landed in a generous group so should be fine making the next phase.
12. Olympiacos
A generous ranking? Maybe. But CBK Mersin are big favorites, so Olympiacos are almost in a 'group within a group' against Tango Bourges Basket and Zabiny Brno. It feels opportunity is knocking loudly for the Greek side to make some noise this season. Merrit Hempe brings quality and experience so will be a top performer, with Ivana Raca also hugely capable and Kyra Lambert very much the 'X-Factor' for this team. If she balls out then they're going to be possible surprise packages. Returnees Eleanna Christinaki, Rebecca Tobin and Anna Spyridopoulou will also flex their muscles.
13. Uni Gyor
It's a rough draw for Uni Gyor with not the usual one, but two heavyweights to contend with in their group. They would have to play incredibly well to get anything from Valencia or Praha across those games and so it might boil down to a two-game experience with Reyer Venezia to advance. The Hungarians do have some quality players and not least Virag Kiss, Bridget Carleton and Darcee Garbin. That trio will largely determine how far they go and with Cyesha Goree and Weronika Telenga too, they at least have the physical attributes as a team to make life tough for opponents.
14. Basket Landes
Basket Landes have rolled with the punches and fought above their weight in this competition for many seasons. This time they had the extra battle of having to make it out of the Qualifiers. They're looking like underdogs in their Group, but on their own court, they have always managed to cause visitors plenty of problems. The backcourt looks vibrant with new arrivals Destiny Slocum and Leila Lacan, while there is continuity with the likes of Luisa Geiselsoder. They still feel a little short-handed in terms of proven quality in the tournament, but have a track record of creating upsets!
15. KGHM BC Polkowice
It's been a bumpy 2024 at times for the Polish side and even just this week they were blown out by Lublin in the Polish SuperCup. They are also up against the Finalists from last season in Fenerbahce Opet and Villeneuve d;Ascq LM, while Casademont Zaragoza could be a challenge too. The good news is they have massive know how with Emma Cannon, Amanda Bazoukou, Anete Steinberga and Alexis Peterson, but It just feels like Karol Kowalewski and his team will have done absolutely great if they avoid a departure to EuroCup Women.
16. Zabiny Brno
They came from the Qualifiers and won a thrilling tie with TARR-KSC Szekszard that was great to watch and now fans in Brno will be ready to create a great atmosphere for their team in this first Group phase. Maybe last spot is a little harsh but we wait to see if they can climb the rankings ladder. If they do, it will probably be down to a one-two punch from Elissa Cunane and Petra Zaplatova who can both come up with the big scoring contributions. They could have been in a worse group so it would not be a surprise if the got a win - or two against Tango Bourges Basket and Olympiacos.
*The power rankings are put together by our expert panel. They are entirely subjective and are in no way a true and accurate ranking system. All comments are purely those of the author.
FIBA