Five things you need to know about this edition of SuperCup Women

MUNICH (SuperCup Women) - The latest edition of the SuperCup Women Final will take place on Wednesday between UMMC Ekaterinburg and Galatasaray.

The reigning EuroLeague Women champions UMMC will host the 2018 EuroCup Women winners in a one-off contest for the prestigious SuperCup Women silverware. The game will be live-streamed for fans and here are five things you need to know ahead of the big showdown:

UMMC chasing down some history

If UMMC manage to live up to their status as red-hot favorites to add to their trophy room and do shoot down Galatasaray, they will become the first team to win the SuperCup Women three times. They are currently the only club with two wins to their name aside from Sparta&K M.R. Vidnoje who took the honors at the opening two editions of the competition.

Galatasaray also chasing down some history

Could it be eighth time lucky for a EuroCup Women representative? The past seven editions have witnessed a EuroLeague Women sweep. Although in reality, it is probably seventh time lucky. That is because in 2015, it was a four-team tournament which resulted in two EuroLeague Women clubs making the Final.

UMMC ready to unveil some new big-hitters

Tipped to win EuroLeague Women again in 2019 with a seriously stacked roster of incredible talent, the Russian juggernauts have reloaded in a big way. As well as the core of their 2018 title-winning team such as Alba Torrens, Emma Meesseman and Brittney Griner, they have brought in more big names. Arguably top of that list is Courtney Vandersloot, the former Yakin Dogu Universitesi playmaker who was sensational last season in EuroCup Women. Meanwhile Jonquel Jones is ready to make a serious noise in the paint and she is about to finally land in EuroLeague Women, but the real headline-grabber was UMMC snatching Maria Vadeeva away from main competitors Dynamo Kursk. The young center has made an immediate impression and took MVP honors at the prestigious UMMC Cup  preseason tournament late last month.

Are the new-look Galatasaray ready to fire?

It's been all-change at Galatasaray after the ultimate roller-coaster season in 2017-18. They may have won EuroCup Women, but were terrible in the Turkish League and posted their lowest finishing position in memory. During the off-season, the club has parted ways with Marina Maljkovic and had something of a clear-out. While the ever-reliable Isil Alben is still in situ, and Moriah Jefferson is back from long-term injury, the signs are not that good. Galatasaray look less stacked than in the past few years and they will certainly need the presence of the legendary Nevriye Yilmaz on the coaching staff. The team comes into the contest having lost in the Istanbul derby against Besiktas over the weekend.

Galatasaray return to the scene of greatest ever triumph

While winning EuroCup Women earlier this year is one of their finest memories, nothing will ever beat a very special night in 2014 at the DIVS Arena in Ekaterinburg. That was the evening when they won the EuroLeague Women title for the first time and in the process, they became the first ever Turkish side to be crowned winners. They also did so by beating arch rivals Fenerbahce in the Final. A source of inspiration perhaps?

FIBA