EuroLeague Women Week 3 reflections

MUNICH (EuroLeague Women) – It was another explosive and exciting week in EuroLeague Women and our women's basketball specialist Paul Nilsen has been casting his eye over the main themes.

Just ankles
I have seen some outstanding individual moves over the years by so many players, but the work that Sopron Basket guard Yvonne Turner did to dislodge a superstar like Angel McCoughtry from her defensive position during this highlight, was special.

By the way, credit to Sopron Basket for the way they played in the first half to keep pace with the champions - especially without Jelena Milovanovic. It was great to see another Serbian talent in Aleksandra Crvendakic step up with a fine 20 points. From a Kursk perspective, welcome back Nnemkadi Ogwumike - and we thought the roster of the champions could not get much deeper!

Shot clocks destroyed on thrilling night
I have never known a week of EuroLeague Women when so many shot-clocks were beaten in so many games. It was the definitive story of Week 3. The significance of this is that such highlights need to be harnessed by FIBA and the clubs to promote the women's game and of course EuroLeague Women to even more fans. It is marketable and does have the capacity to grow significantly - or at least, that is my belief.

Pelin Bilgic showed her qualities and composure for Fenerbahce.

There was this special from way deep by Jolene Anderson of Beretta Famila Schio at Nadezhda. 

Sopron capped that super, opening 20 minutes against the champions in style.

Individual Performance of the Week – I am going with Allie Quigley on the basis that efficiency scores tell you so much, but not the whole picture. In the biggest moments, you need players who can deliver in the clutch. With 26 points and the decisive basket for Galatasaray in a 74-72 classic at Bourges, it was hugely important. She just pips her teammate Gintare Petronyte. 

Cameo Performance of the Week – One for my fellow Brit Johannah Leedham-Warner who added 12 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals for ESBVA-LM in their cross-border derby win against Castors Braine, as Pauline Akonga Nsimbo headlined with a special 28 points.

Number Crunching
Akonga Nsimbo scored the highest individual points return of the season so far with that 28 points for ESBVA-LM.

Marta Xargay became only the second player this season to reach double-digits for assists when she served up 10 for ZVVZ USK Prague against CCC Polkowice.

The 88 points scored by Dynamo Kursk at Sopron Basket was the highest by any team this season.

Footnotes
I accept the words of Maros Kovacik that Nadezhda had switched off mentally and were not fully prepared in their heavy home defeat by Famila Schio, but I can't take anything away from the Italians. Pierre Vincent seems to have his team fine-tuned and it was an outstanding 76-46 road win - not least, off the back of the home victory against Fenerbahce. Considering they have had injury issues, it still feels there is even more to come and a Final Four appearance is not out of the question this season.

Welcome back DeWanna Bonner to EuroLeague Women! One of my favorite players in the global FIBA game, it was excellent to see her playing on her return from maternity leave.

What was even more satisfying, was seeing Prague rely on 38 points from their Czech duo Katerina Elhotova and Alena Hanusova. Important because it sends a strong message out that domestic players can be important.

Galatasaray winning at Bourges was a great result, but also a great advert for the competition and one of the most enjoyable games I have seen in a long time. Great job Marina Maljkovic and her players, but congratulations to Bourges too for the role they played. Surely there are still good times ahead for both teams this season.

You can follow Paul via @basketmedia365

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