ZARAGOZA (Spain) - The maiden Final Six will see either CIMSA CBK Mersin or ZVVZ USK Praha depart Zaragoza on a high as the EuroLeague Women 2025 champions.
Mersin are appearing in their second Final in three editions and hoping they can make history by lifting the precious silverware for the first time. If successful, they would become the third Turkish club to accomplish the feat, following in the footsteps of Galatasaray and Fenerbahce.
Praha are chasing their second crown and exactly a decade after the first.
It also presents an amazing opportunity for the retiring Natalia Hejkova to sign off with a staggering sixth EuroLeague Women title - having won all five previous Finals she has coached in.
CIMSA CBK Mersin vs ZVVZ USK Praha - 20:00 CET
Mersin are just one step away from realizing their dream and it could be their defense in particular that is the key ingredient in getting the job done. While their roster is deep and packed with offensive talent, their ability to collectively disrupt other teams and come up with big defensive plays crove to be the critical element.
They have elite guards in Yvonne Anderson, Marine Johannes and Marine Fauthoux. Depth on the wings with Karlie Samuelson and Bridget Carleton always ready to deliver a dagger. Throw in the power and muscle in the paint of Natasha Howard, Iliana Rupert and Maria Araujo and there's plenty for Ahmet Kandemir to call upon.
Even if Praha are less deep in terms of star quality without the injured Maria Conde and fellow Spaniard Maite Cazorla still doubtful, their team approach has been their strength. That was illustrated when without the duo and with the highly influential Valeriane Ayayi in serious foul trouble and on the bench, they were still able to make their biggest run of the game against Fenerbahce in the Semi-Finals.
So much will hinge on Teja Oblak again being able to use her veteran know-how to pull the strings. With Czech trio Tereza Vyoralova, Veronika Vorackova and Gabriela Andelova all contributing alongside her when called upon, the quartet have to bring it one last time for Praha to finish on the top step of the podium.
Perhaps most positively, the size and potency of Praha in the paint could give them an important edge. Having Ayayi on the wing, as well as Brionna Jones, Ezi Magbegor and Emese Hof rotating inside, makes them physically imposing and that was huge in making it past Fenerbahce.
Game history: It's a repeat of last year's Third Place Game which Mersin won comfortably 95-67 on their home floor. Outside of Regular Season meetings, the duo clashed in the 2023 Semi-Finals with Mersin also dominant 78-58. Interestingly, both clubs have avoided each other this season, so it's their first meeting of the campaign.
Star player: Marine Johannes looks to be heating up nicely for Mersin. Could this be the moment when the uber-talented French star delivers one of her biggest ever games and takes them to the title they crave? Key matchup: Ezi Magbegor was unstoppable in the Semi-Finals and along with Praha serving up their best display of the campaign, she produced her season best at just the right time. Can she get anywhere near that level again and follow it up with another big show?
Not least because Natasha Howard is getting better with each game and the Mersin big really did set the tone in the Semi-Final against Valencia. Both have the capacity to be difference-makers, although it's a matchup within a wider battle under the basket. It sits nicely and intriguingly alongside the duel between the in-form Brionna Jones and Iliana Rupert. X-factor: Will Praha be able to find their shooting touch from outside to score against the inevitable zone defense of Mersin? Alternatively, can they work the ball well enough to still be aggressive and get it inside where they love to dominate? Mersin will also have to box out, because Praha were beasts on the offensive glass in the Semi-Finals. It's going to be a fascinating battle of basketball strategy - but who will come out on top?
Third Place Game
Valencia Basket Club and Fenerbahce Opet will meet in the Third Place Game at 17:00 CET as both teams look to bounce back from their respective Semi-Final disappointments.
Valencia have the added incentive of improving their already assured best-ever EuroLeague Women finish if they can swap fourth for third. Meanwhile Fenerbahce will be eager to at least finish the competition on a winning note after not only relinquishing their grip on the title, but looking a pale shadow of themselves in their loss to Praha.
FIBA