Rising stars: Who will win the Young Player of the Year award?

MUNICH (Germany) - Voting for the EuroLeague Women Awards is now well underway, with fans from across the continent and beyond rushing to pick their favorites in six different categories, including the Young Player of the Year. 

There have been a number of stand-out performances from the league's rising stars in the 2023-24 campaign and all nine nominated players would would love to join the elite company of former recipients of the award, which includes Iliana Rupert, Marine Fauthoux and Pauline Astier.

Here's everything you need to know about this year's class before you cast your vote below. 

Who's getting your thumbs up this year?

Elena Buenavida (Valencia Basket Club)

Date of Birth:  March 8, 2004
Stats: 15.7 MPG / 4.8 PPG / 1.7 APG / 1.3 RPG  / 4.7 EFF

With her experiences in the competition last season, everything about the impressive evolution of Buenavida can be summarized by her near 16 minutes per game. Composed and able to contribute to the scoring load off the bench, she is fulfilling the immense promise shown wearing a Spain jersey at youth level. 

 

Louise Bussiere (Basket Landes)

Date of Birth: August 7, 2002 
Stats: 11.0 MPG / 3.5  PPG / 2,6 EFF

Having landed on the scoresheet in nine different games this season, a big highlight for the small forward was when she dropped 13 points in a matchup against Serco UNI Gyor. Bussiere showed her impressive shooting range that night and she is a baller that can take strides in coming years.

Claudia Contell (Valencia Basket Club)

Date of Birth: December 20, 2003
Stats: 11.3 MPG / 3.5 PPG / 2.3 RPG / 3.9 EFF  

Another star of the Spanish youth teams, Contell has showed why she is a former FIBA U20 Women's EuroBasket MVP with some encouraging displays for Valencia.  Averaging double-digits in minutes, she dropped a memorable 12 points against reigning champions Fenerbahce Alagoz Holding earlier in the season. 

Sika Kone (Perfumerias Avenida)

Date of Birth: July 13, 2002
Stats: 20.6 MPG / 12.2 PPG / 54.9 FG%  / 7.1 RPG /14.1 EFF

The impact of Kone during her rookie EuroLeague Women campaign has been enormous and so much so, she has even made it onto the list of candidates for this year's MVP. The forward used all of her power in the paint to take Avenida to the Play-Offs with more than 12 points and 7 boards per outing. 

 

Reka Dombai (Serco UNI Gyor)

Date of Birth: September 16, 2002
Stats: 19.6 MPG / 6.6 PPG / 2.5 RPG / 1.6 APG  / 6.0 EFF  

With almost 20 minutes per game banked, it's clear to see why Dombai is touted as being a future leader for the Hungary national team. She had three games when she racked up double-digit scoring returns and Gyor also gained the benefit of the young guard's strength on the glass.

 

Aminata Gueye (Villeneuve d'Ascq LM)

Date of Birth: July 10, 2002
Stats: 10.3 MPG / 4.0 PPG / 50% FG / 2.5 RPG / 3.6 EFF

What a season it has been for Villeneuve d'Ascq who made the Quarter-Finals for the first time and then went on to book a maiden Final Four place. Gueye has played a nice cameo by logging double-figures in minutes, making smart shot choices and buying into the team-ball concept that has made them shine.

 
Emily Kalenik (Polski Cukier AZS UMCS Lublin)

Date of Birth: June 3, 2004
Stats: 19.9 MPG / 3.8 PPG / 3.5 RPG / 5.6 EFF

Having cut her teeth with Valencia Basket Club last season, a return to her native Poland saw Kalenik amass an impressive near 20 minutes per game. She also did a nice job on the glass and showed why there is a lot of excitement about her capacity to keep on growing in influence,

Ajsa Sivka (Beretta Famila Schio)

Date of Birth: November 23, 2005
Stats: 10.6 MPG / 2.3 PPG / 2.1 RPG / 3.3 EFF

There is a lot of expectation on the shoulders of Sivka who shone so brightly last summer with Slovenia at senior and youth level. Schio only just missed out on Final Four and the versatile forward played her role in a productive campaign with more than 10 minutes per game and some nice contributions.

 

Dominika Ullmann (Polski Cukier AZS UMCS Lublin)

Date of Birth: November 28, 2005
Stats: 15.7 MPG / 3.8 PPG / 1.3 EFF 

There was a need for Polski Cukier AZS UMCS Lublin to utilize young Polish players and Ullmann answered the call with more than 15 minutes of action. The guard also gave a glimpse into her potential with a particularly memorable 13-point haul in a clash against Valencia Basket Club.

You can cast your vote in the EuroLeague Women Awards below! 

 FIBA