MUNICH (Germany) - The EuroLeague Women Second Round is about to drop as part of the revamped format for the 2024-25 season and excitement levels are ready to be turned up to max as we enter this next phase.
The new competition system will see the top two teams in both Group E and Group F all go directly to the Semi-Final Play-Ins, with their Final Six spots locked. Meanwhile, third and fourth in each group will advance to the Quarter-Final Play-Ins.
Here's everything you need to know as the race to the Final Six continues.
Group E
A wide open Group E presents an exciting opportunity for many clubs, since three teams are stacked with 4-2 records and they will all feel confident they can beat each other at home and on the road. The favorites - Unbeaten and packed with talent, CBK Mersin look an absolute lock to finish in pole position. With Yvonne Anderson pulling the strings and both Natalie Howard and Iliana Rupert standing out in the paint, they have the quality and depth to ease their way through this group.
The middle of the pack - Perfumerias Avenida are 3-3 which is probably a little behind where they expected pre-season. It is this inconsistency that has everyone wondering what this next chapter will bring. The good news is they can come out of the middle of the pack. But they need more than great work from young gun Iyana Martin Carrion. The underdogs - Zabiny Brno sit with a 2-4 record in the basement spot, but will feel their work is not done. Pitched into Group E rather than the tougher looking Group F, they could be the fly in the ointment for many of their opponents. Don't rule them out causing some surprises, especially with Elissa Cunane and Eliska Hamzova firing. The star - Iliana Rupert is closing in on a season double-double with CBK Mersin and is becoming more and more dominant. That is great news and especially with fellow French standout Marine Johannes out with an injury. The rising star - Iyana Martin Carrion has had a fantastic rookie season so far in an Avenida vest. The 18-year-old is leading her team in both efficiency and assists. That is a tremendous effort and she is looking like a major star in the making. That is great news not only for the competition, but also for the Spanish national team.
Who will win Group A?
Group F
There are some incredible ballers competing in Group F, which contains three of this season's frontrunners for silverware in Fenerbahce Opet, Valencia Basket Club and ZVVZ USK Praha. The favorites - The undefeated reigning champions Fenerbahce will be the team most people expect to take top position. They are still overly reliant on Emma Meesseman which could be a concern, but the title holders have shown in recent years they get stronger as the season unfolds. Watch out for the likes of Gabby Williams moving up the gears. The middle of the pack - Casademont Zaragoza are 4-2 along with ZVVZ USK Praha, but it feels like the force is really with the latter and it is now up to the former to emerge out of the middle of the pack. Not least because Zaragoza has made the amazing commitment to host Final Six for the next three years. They rolled over Valencia with ease this past weekend and if they can produce like this in the coming weeks, they can continue have a great overall campaign. The underdogs - At 3-3, Umana Reyer Venezia are not too far behind getting themselves back into a good position in the race. But the big issue is how they turnaround their run of form. They have lost three of their last four games and that in itself makes them underdogs - especially with two outings against Fenerbahce to come. The Zaragoza games will be absolutely crunch.
The star - Emma Meesseman continues to show why she is one of the best players on the planet with another fabulous season. She is right at the center of the race for MVP again, having taken the accolade again last season. Now we're getting closer to the business end of the campaign, she will be even more influential for Fenerbahce. The rising star - Starting the season as a teenager, Matilde Villa of Umana Reyer Venezia has had a nice season for the Italian club. The guard has shot more than 50 percent from the field and leads her side in assists with four per game. Now she has a big role to play in helping them try to get back on track and improve on their 3-3 record.
Who will win Group F?
FIBA