Four reasons ZVVZ USK Praha can win the EuroLeague Women 2019 title

PRAGUE (Czech Republic) - As we excitedly jump towards the Final Four, we're checking out the main four reasons each of the participants can land the title and next up, it's ZVZ USK Praha.

Alyssa Thomas

While all the talk has been about the brilliant debut season of Regular Season MVP, Breanna Stewart, many observers feel that Thomas has pushed her compatriot close in the rookie stakes. She has been simply incredible and has been on absolute fire since the moment started treading those EuroLeague Women boards. 

Pressure... what pressure?

Of course Praha will be going to try and win the title, but there will surely be far less pressure on their shoulders than anyone else at the Final Four. UMMC and Dynamo Kursk will be expected to win it all, while even Sopron will be thinking about making sure they put on a competitive showing for their super home fans. For Praha, this is a massive bonus at the end of an already excellent season and you sense the only pressure they will feel is what they put on themselves individually. Surely the message will be to get out and play, have fun and show the kind of expression and offensive firepower that has characterized their 2018-19 season!

Natalia Hejkova 

 
With her astonishing five titles, Praha can lean on the most successful EuroLeague Women playcaller, with the veteran finally being inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame - a measure of her accomplishments. She has seen and done it all before, so nothing will faze Hejkova and that should transmit itself to her players who could not wish for more experience to guide them through these pivotal few days in Sopron. 

Winning as underdogs is now in their DNA

Four years ago everything changed for ZVVZ USK Praha when they won their first ever EuroLeague Women title. They were the underdogs, yet against expectation, they did it and as a result, the DNA of the club was changed forever. No longer were they only about building domestic domination and pushing to make the Quarter-Finals or dreaming of the Final Four. What happened in 2015 changed everything. They might not now expect to make the Final and will certainly not expect to lift the silverware - but this is a club that knows if things go right, they can do it. It is a mountain they have already climbed in the past.

FIBA