MUNICH (Germany) - The EuroLeague Women off-season has been as busy as usual with lots of transfer activity for all clubs in the competition, but which ones have impressed the most with their summer dealings?
Our expert panel has been reviewing the rosters ahead of the Regular Season tip-off.
The ratings they have given are not focused on the overall quality of the roster, but solely comparing incoming transfers against those who departed.
Basket Landes
Staying: Luisa Geiselsoder, Louise Bussiere, Sixtine Macquet, Thea Heleno, Mousdandy Djaldi-Tabdi, Yohana Ewodo, Mariama N'Diaye
Out: Angela Salvadores, Kendra Chery, Alexis Peterson, Cierra Burdick, Clara Latil
In: Leila Lacan, Destiny Slocum, Myriam Djekoundale, Sam Fuehring
Key Signing: Destiny Slocum
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Summary: It very much feels 'like for like' in terms of the ins and outs at Landes. Plus they have already proven their worth by getting their club safely into the Regular Season by beating Besiktas JK in the Qualifiers.
Beretta Famila Schio
Staying: Martina Bestagno, Martina Crippa, Giorgia Sottana, Olbis Futo Andre, Jasmine Keys, Costanza Verona, Dorka Juhasz
Out: Robyn Parks, Arella Guirantes, Julia Reisingerova, Elisa Penna, Florenicia Chagas, Ajsa Sivka
In: Ivana Dojkic, Janelle Salaun, Ilaria Panzera, Kitija Laksa, Carlotta Zanardi
Key Signing: Janelle Salaun
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Summary: The loss of Guirantes could hurt but the strategy might be playing more quickly and a little more free. Dojkic is a scoring machine, Laksa can also score in bunches, while the super Salaun is just so mobile.
Casademont Zaragaoza
Staying: Ainhoa Gervasini, Mariona Ortiz, Helena Oma, Nerea Hermosa, Tanaya Atkinson
Out: Petra Holesinska, Leonie Fiebich, Aleksa Gulbe, Vega Gimeno, Serena Lynn Geldof, Christelle Diallo
In: Ellen Nystrom, Melisa Brcaninovic, Laia Flores, Helena Pueyo, Stephanie Mawuli, Miroslava Mistinova, Markeisha Gatling
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Summary: It's probably the most difficult assessment to make. Fiebich was the marquee baller and the dynamo of their amazing rookie season and now she's gone. At least this time there'll be less focus on one main player.
CBK Mersin
Staying: Sinem Atas, Maria Araujo, Derin Yaya, Asena Yalcin
Out: Virag Kiss, Marina Mabrey, Olivia Epoupa, Kahleah Copper, Quanitra Hollingsworth, Laura Cornelius, Melis Gulcan
In: Marine Fauthoux, Yvonne Anderson, Marine Johannes, Karlie Samuelson, Sevval Akalan, Sugranur Sonmez, Kayla Thornton, Regan Magarity, Natasha Howard, Iliana Rupert, Ilayda Guner
Key Signing: Marine Johannes
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Summary: Potential title material again? Probably. The experience of Anderson is great, the three-point threat of Samuelson and the trio of French national ballers is exciting. Howard, Thornton and Magarity are also tough.
DVTK HUNTHERM
Staying: Veronika Kanyasi, Ana Tadic, Nina Aho, Monika Grigalauskyte, Reka Lelik, Kaila Charles, Zsofia Tenyer, Milica Jovanovic, Petra Toman, Tyra Aho, Fruzsina Olah, Eliza Farbas
Out: Darcee Garbin, Anna Veg-Dudas
In: Aleksa Gulbe, Melinda Miklos, Zsofia Poczkodi
Key Signing: Aleksa Gulbe
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Summary: There's not a lot to talk about when it comes to transfers for the Miskolc club who have some amazing continuity to call upon. Garbin out and Gulbe in does not look or feel like a wildly big difference.
Fenerbahce Opet
Staying: Sevgi Uzun, Alperi Onar, Marieme Badiane, Emma Meesseman, Tilbe Senyurek, Marija Lekovic, Nikolina Milic
Out: Yvonne Anderson, Kayla McBride, Napheesa Collier, Kitija Laksa, Merve Aydin
In: Olcay Cakir Turgut, Tina Charles, Julie Allemand, Gabby Williams, Ariel Atkins.
Key Signing: Gabby Williams
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Summary: The addition of Williams, Allemand and Atkins is huge to replace McBride and Anderson, but the frontcourt is not exactly edge of your seat stuff. Veteran Tina Charles does at least bring plenty of experience.
KGHM BC Polkowice
Staying: Weronika Gajda, Julia Piestrzynska, Wiktoria Zasada, Julia Nielacna
Out: Steph Mavunga, Nika Baric, Dragana Stankovic, Zala Friskovec, Brittney Sykes, Brianna Fraser, Klaudia Gertchen
In: Weronika Piechowiak, Alexis Peterson, Maria Jespersen, Emma Cannon, Amanda Bazoukou, Rennia Davis, Anete Steinberga, Julia Nielacna
Key Signing: Anete Steinberga
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Summary: Even the late addition of Steinberga doesn't quite make up for the long list of quality players who left in the summer. They'll have huge experience with her, Cannon and Bazoukou but they've lost some athleticism.
Olympiacos
Staying: Rebecca Tobin, Elena Pilakouta, Ioanna Diela, Eleni Syrra, Anna Spyridopoulou, Renia Karlafti, Evgenia Kollatou, Eleanna Christinaki
Out: Brooque Williams Amanda Kantzy, Kristine Vitola
In: Merrit Hempe, Ivana Raca, Kyra Lambert
Key Signing: Kyra Lambert
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Summary: There was no major clearout but three key ins and outs maybe make Olympiacos stronger. You could argue for just three stars, but if Hempe, Raca and especially Lambert play well, they could be a surprise team.
Perfumerias Avenida
Staying: Silvia Dominguez, Andrea Vilaro, Antonia Delaere, Laura Gil, Mariella Fasoula, Sika Kone, Arica Carter
Out: Olcay Cakir, Leonor Rodriguez, Bernadett Hatar
In: Iyana Martin Carrion, Laura Cornelius, Arella Guirantes, Masa Jankovic, Cierra Burdick, Mikiah Herbert Harrigan
Key Signing: Arella Guirantes
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Summary: It might take time to gel and find chemistry, but there's exciting in for Avenida fans and especially Guirantes and rising star Martin Carrion. It makes Avenida quite deep-looking, but who's in the best five?
Tango Bourges Basket
Staying: Alix Duchet, Pauline Astier, Tima Pouye, Laetitia Guapo, Artemis Spanou, Ana-Maria Filip
Out: Kayla Alexander, Sarah Michel-Boury, Shay Colley, Anete Steinberga, Kristen Mann, Kamile Nacickaite
In Amy Okonkwo, Ines Pitarch-Granel, Kariata Diaby, Morgan Green
Key Signing: Kariata Diaby
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Summary: The loss of both Alexander and Steinberga is huge as they're proven at this level. Diaby is underrated and Okonkwo too, but also losing a club legend like Michel Boury is a real hammer-blow. You can't replace her.
Umana Reyer Venezia
Staying: Lisa Berkani, Martina Fassina, Matilde Villa, Awak Kuier, Francesca Pan, Lorela Cubaj, Caterina Logoh
Out: Jessica Shepard, Anna Makurat, Laura Meldere
In: Mariella Santucci, Giuditta Nicolodi, Maria Miccoli, Kamiah Smalls, Dragana Stankovic Key Signing: Dragana Stankovic
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Summary: The addition of Smalls and Stankovic in particular is important. The former will bring something extra to the backcourt after she reached the 2024 Final, while Stankovic helps plug the massive hole left by Shepard.
Uni Gyor
Staying: Nora Wentzel, Bridget Carleton, Cyesha Goree, Debora Dubei, Dora Ruff-Nagy, Reka Dombai, Boglarka Bach
Out: Destiny Slocum, Kristine Anigwe, Janka Hegedus, Janka Gyongyosi.
In: Virag Kiss, Weronika Telenga, Barbara Angyal, Darcee Garbin, Nora Wentzel, Agota Meszaros, Lua Acs
Key Signing: Virag Kiss
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Summary: Slocum was effective and Anigwe also a big factor at times. But with Kiss back in Hungary and lining up alongside two ballers who don't get the spotlight they deserve in Telenga and Garbin, Gyor have done well.
Valencia Basket Club
Staying: Nadia Fingall, Queralt Casas, Cristina Ouvina, Raquel Carrera, Leticia Romero, Alba Torrens, Alina Iagupova
Out: Merrit Hempe, Marie Guelich, Elena Buenavida, Awa Fam, Noa Morro
In Steph Mavunga, Irene Broncano, Kristina Vitola, Kayla Alexander, Bernadett Hatar, Mojca Jelenc, Yvonne Turner
Key Signing: Kayla Alexander
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Summary: Valencia have essentially kept their backcourt and wings and looked to regenerate their frontcourt. Mavunga, Alexander and Hatar bring so much and with Carrera back from injury, they look potent and deep.
Villeneuve d'Ascq LM
Staying: Maia Hirsch, Shavonte Zellous, Aminata Gueye, Caroline Heriaud, Elodie Lutbert, Clara Causeur
Out: Kariata Diaby, Myriam Djekoundale, Janelle Salaun, Kamiah Smalls, Maxuella Lisowa-Mbaka, Charlotte Abraham, Bethy Mununga, Keisha Hampton
In: Carla Leite, Kelsey Bone, Marie-Paule Fopossi, Helena Ciak, Iva Slonjsak
Key Signing: Carla Leite
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Summary: Last year's shock Finalists have had to wave goodbye to key ballers like Salaun, Diaby and Smalls. But the exciting young gun Leite, alongside veterans like Bone and Ciak should keep their roster competitive.
ZVVZ USK Praha
Staying: Teja Oblak, Valeriane Ayayi, Maria Conde, Ezi Magbegor, Maite Cazorla, Emese Hof, Ezi Magbegor, Tereza Vyoralova, Veronika Sipova, Veronika Vorackova, Gabriela Andelova, Mariana Pribylova, Karolina Petlanova
Out: Nyara Sabally
In: Brionna Jones, Isabelle Harrison
Key Signing: Brionna Jones
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Summary: It's all about the continuity for Praha and there is no denying that as good as Nyara Sabally is, the fact they have now got the towering Brionna Jones and also Isabelle Harrison shows they mean business again.
FIBA