The second week of the 2024-25 EuroLeague Women season is in the books.

The top performance came from former New York Liberty and current French national team guard Marine Johannès, who scored 24 points (6-for-11 from 3) and dished out six dimes for ÇBK Mersin in their win over Žabiny Brno.

But since this is the EuroLeague, there were plenty of other performances and games worthy of attention.

Strong games by guards make for surprise wins

The beauty of the EuroLeague is that you get to see a plethora of players popping off. Veronika Kányási, the backup guard for the Hungarian national team, came off the bench for DVTK in their game against one of the competition’s favorites, Beretta Famila Schio. Kányási dropped 17 points (3-for-6 from 3) and grabbed five boards, while her team won 70-63.

Polkowice, playing against last year’s finalists Villeneuve d’Ascq, weren’t expected to win by that big of a margin. The final score, 90-63, showed which team was better that day. Polkowice are a different group than a year ago, with Alexis Peterson, Rennia Davis and Emma Cannon all starting for the Poles. Peterson was particularly instrumental in her team’s win, as she not only scored 14 points but also dished out nine dimes. Cannon scored 22 points and grabbed 10 boards.

Blowouts abound

Fenerbahçe, Praha and Bourges Basket scored big wins during their games. Fener dominating wasn’t that big of a surprise, especially considering how Emma Meesseman and Gabby Williams are looking as a tandem. The Belgian-French collab combined for 36 points, 10 boards and 10 assists, and the reigning champs won against Zaragoza 84-64. Praha was carried by Maria Conde’s all-around performance, with 26 points, 10 boards, five assists and three steals. The Spaniard led the Czechia champs to a 82-68 win over UNI Győr. Bourges won 88-53 against Olympiacos, following a solid game by Amy Okonkwo, who had 20 points and six rebounds.

The “Game of the Week” didn’t disappoint

In the duel between two of the tournament’s favorites, Valencia went up 19-6 against Venezia in the first quarter, with Bernadett Határ dominating in the middle. It seemed like the visitors might sail to an easy win. But in time, Awak Kuier (14 points) was slipping past her defenders, while Lorela Cubaj was phenomenal guarding the basket. Venezia tied the score by the end of the third quarter. The performance of the game, though, came from reserve shooting guard, Frenchwoman Lisa Berkani, who scored 18 points (50 percent from the floor, 57 percent from 3). In a duel of evenly matched teams, the one that was more focused—Venezia—won, 75-67. Can’t wait for the rematch in Valencia!

Week 2 scores

Group A

DVTK HUN-Therm Miskolc 70, Beretta Famila Schio 63

Avenida 81, Basket Landes 52

Group B

Çukurova Basketbol Mersin 88, Žabiny Brno 74

Olympiacos B.C. 53, Tango Bourges Basket 88

Group C

KGHM BC Polkowice 90, Villeneuve-d’Ascq LM 63

Fenerbahçe Opet 84, Casademont Zaragoza 64

Group D

ZVVZ USK Praha 82, UNI Győr 68

Umana Reyer Venezia 75, Valencia Basket Club 67

Two-time defending EuroLeague Women champion Fenerbahçe Opet’s roster may look different than it did last season, but the Turkish powerhouse picked up where it left off anyway, opening the 2024-25 season with an impressive group play win over Villeneuve-d’Ascq LM.

New to Fenerbahçe this season is a host of international talent including French forward Gabby Williams, Belgian guard Julie Allemand and Americans Ariel Atkins and Tina Charles. Factor in EuroLeague Women legend Emma Meesseman and you get a versatile lineup with skill, athleticism and experience, and it’s no wonder why they were ranked No. 1 overall by FIBA.com in its preseason power rankings.

Early returns for Fenerbahçe have been good, with Charles and Meesseman combining to score 38 points on 17-for-23 shooting from the field. Also of note during Week 1 of group play were 92-point performances put up by Žabiny Brno and Beretta Famila Schio, the former of which hit a whopping 16 3-point shots as a team.

Can Brno repeat that shooting performance against a tough ÇBK Mersin squad that projects to be in the hunt for a EuroLeague Women championship? Will ZVVZ USK Praha bounce back from a disappointing opening-week loss despite missing two of its biggest stars? And can Casademot Zaragoza give Fenerbahçe another scare, just as it did twice last season?

These are all questions we’ll be pondering as Week 2 of EuroLeague Women group play tips off this Wednesday, Oct. 16. All games will be streamed live and for free on FIBA’s EuroLeague Women YouTube channel. Now, let’s go through this week’s schedule and discuss some key matchups throughout the competition.

Wednesday, October 16

Žabiny Brno (1-0) vs. ÇBK Mersin (1-0)

When: 11:30 a.m. ET

Where: Servet Tazegül Spor Salonu in Mersin, Turkey

How to watch: FIBA YouTube live stream

Notable players: Elissa Cunane (Žabiny Brno); Marine Johannès, Natasha Howard, Karlie Samuelson, Yvonne Anderson, Iliana Rupert, Marine Fauthoux, Regan Magarity (ÇBK Mersin)

Matchup details: Brno made quite an impression in Week 1, draining 16 3-pointers en route to a 31-point win over Olympiacos, but will now face a much stiffer test in Mersin, which is widely considered to be the strongest club in Group B. Mersin revamped its roster, adding playmakers like Johannès, Anderson and Fauthoux, though the star of the show last week was Rupert, who record 20 points, nine rebounds and two steals in a win over Bourges. Keep an eye on her individual matchup against Cunane.

Casademont Zaragoza (1-0) vs. Fenerbahçe Opet (1-0)

When: 12 p.m. ET

Where: Metro Energy Sports Hall in Istanbul, Turkey

How to watch: FIBA YouTube live stream

Notable players: Markeisha Gatling, Helena Pueyo, Tanaya Atkinson, Stephanie Mawuli (Casademont Zaragoza); Ariel Atkins, Emma Meesseman, Tina Charles, Gabby Williams, Julie Allemand, Nikolina Milic, Sevgi Uzun (Fenerbahçe Opet)

Matchup details: Fenerbahçe’s new-look roster had little difficulty last week against Villeneuve-d’Ascq, winning 81-52, and will now get a crack at Zaragoza, which was one of the few clubs to give Fenerbahçe close games last season. Fenerbahçe’s elite frontcourt will have its hands full with the physicality of Atkinson, who led Zaragoza with 23 points last week in a tight win over Polkowice.

Villeneuve-d’Ascq LM (0-1) vs. KGHM BC Polkowice (0-1)

When: 1 p.m. ET

Where: City Sports Hall in Polkowice, Poland

How to watch: FIBA YouTube live stream

Notable players: Shavonte Zellous, Kelsey Bone, Carla Leite, Maïa Hirsch (Villeneuve-d’Ascq LM); Alexis Peterson, Amanda Zahui B., Rennia Davis, Emma Cannon (KGHM BC Polkowice)

Matchup details: Last season’s EuroLeague Women runner-up, Villeneuve-d’Ascq got off to a poor start in Week 1, though it could probably be forgiven when considering the competition. The play of Leite (14 points and six assists), however, was a bright spot; she’ll take on a veteran Polkowice squad that, despite a close loss last week to Zaragoza, has plenty of size and experience and figures to be a tough matchup across the board.

UNI Győr (0-1) vs. ZVVZ USK Praha (0-1)

When: 1 p.m. ET

Where: Královka Arena in Prague, Czech Republic

How to watch: FIBA YouTube live stream

Notable players: Cyesha Goree (UNI Győr); Ezi Magbegor, Brionna Jones, Isabelle Harrison, Maite Cazorla, Valeriane Ayayi, Maria Conde, Emese Hof (ZVVZ USK Praha)

Matchup details: It’s been quite a while since we’ve seen Praha as clearly outgunned as it was last week against Valencia, but there was good reason for it, as the Czech club was missing its top two frontcourt players in Magbegor and Jones. For as long as the two are away from the team, Praha is vulnerable, and there may not be a better chance this season for Győr’s to earn an upset against one of the competition’s perennial powerhouses; the Hungarian club finished 2-12 in group play last season and is not expected to be a contender this time around, either.

Beretta Famila Schio (1-0) vs. DVTK HUN-Therm (0-1)

When: 2 p.m. ET

Where: DVTK Aréna in Miskolc, Hungary

How to watch: FIBA YouTube live stream

Notable players: Kitija Laksa, Jasmine Keys, Janelle Salaün (Beretta Famila Schio); Kaila Charles, Aleksa Gulbe (DVTK HUN-Therm)

Matchup details: DVTK’s penchant for close, low-scoring games has carried over from last season. The Hungarian club fell 55-54 last week against Landes, shooting just 29.6 percent from the field, and it goes without saying that better offense will be required against Schio. Salaün (24 points, nine rebounds and five steals) led Schio to a 92-58 blowout of Avenida in Week 1, and if this is a sign of things to come for the talented young French forward, Schio will have little trouble replacing the scoring it lost after last season.

Thursday, October 17

Tango Bourges Basket (0-1) vs. Olympiacos B.C. (0-1)

When: 11 a.m. ET

Where: Peace and Friendship Stadium in Piraeus, Greece

How to watch: FIBA YouTube live stream

Notable players: Amy Okonkwo, Morgan Green, Pauline Astier, Kariata Diaby (Tango Bourges Basket); Kyra Lambert, Ivana Raca, Rebecca Tobin (Olympiacos B.C.)

Matchup details: Bourges wasn’t particularly impressive in Week 1 against Mersin, but the French club will get a bit of a reprieve this week against Olympiacos, which just allowed 92 points to Brno. Perhaps that result was more due to Brno’s shooting than anything else; Olympiacos will still need to prove it belongs, however, and a better showing against a veteran club like Bourges will be the first step.

Basket Landes (1-0) vs. Perfumerias Avenida (0-1)

When: 2:30 p.m. ET

Where: Pabellón Municipal de Würzburg in Salamanca, Spain

How to watch: FIBA YouTube live stream

Notable players: Destiny Slocum, Leïla Lacan, Sam Fuehring (Basket Landes); Arella Guirantes, Sika Koné, Mikiah Herbert Harrigan, Arica Carter (Perfumerias Avenida)

Matchup details: Led by young star Lacan, Landes eked past DVTK in an opening-week win, which is hopefully a good omen after a lukewarm 4-10 finish in group play last season. Avenida had no such luck, turning the ball over 23 times in a loss to Schio. Expectations are high for the Spanish club, particularly after adding Guirantes, and one early-season loss is nothing to fret over, but with no clear favorite in Group A, Avenida will need to bounce back against Landes, lest it gets put in an 0-2 hole.

Valencia Basket Club (1-0) vs. Umana Reyer Venezia (1-0)

When: 3 p.m. ET

Where: Palasport Taliercio in Venice, Italy

How to watch: FIBA YouTube live stream

Notable players: Alina Iagupova, Stephanie Mavunga, Yvonne Turner, Raquel Carrera, Leticia Romero, Bernadett Határ, Alba Torrens (Valencia Basket Club); Awak Kuier, Lorela Cubaj, Kamiah Smalls (Umana Reyer Venezia)

Matchup details: Both Valencia and Venezia won comfortably in their respective opening-week games, setting the stage for a key early-season matchup in Group D. Valencia, on one hand, is expected to compete for a EuroLeague Women championship this season, with two-time MVP Iagupova and a host of other international basketball veterans. Venezia, on the other, is an up-and-coming young club, with a talented, versatile frontcourt of Kuier and Cubaj making an impact on both ends of the floor.

It is the dawn of a new season for the Iowa Hawkeyes—with an emphasis on new.

They are chartering a new course after two years of being in the glare of the Caitlin Clark-fueled national spotlight, which culminated in back-to-back NCAA national championship game appearances. The Hawkeyes became a phenomenon, drawing sold-out crowds and huge television ratings.

Since their loss to South Carolina in the 2024 title game, the core of the team has left. Lisa Bluder retired after 24 years as head coach. Clark was the No. 1 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever and was named Rookie of the Year. Kate Martin was drafted by the Las Vegas Aces. Gabby Marshall headed to grad school, as did Molly Davis.

This year, the Hawkeyes are entering the season unranked. They have a few familiar faces returning, as well as burgeoning talent on the horizon. And contrary to popular expectations, they’ve already sold out every home game for the second-consecutive season.

At the top, former assistant Jan Jensen steps in as the head coach after 25 years with the program. She is beginning her first season not only with a different roster, but also with a schedule reflecting a different Big Ten conference, as the Hawkeyes are set to play conference newcomers USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington. Through all these changes, Jensen is focused on getting the players to look ahead, rather than look back at what was. At Iowa’s Media Day, she told Swish Appeal:

I think what’s important, especially with them, is that you just got to keep them looking in the windshield. We talked a lot about, “Take that rearview mirror down,” especially for the returners, but even for the freshman because it’s all new and you got to keep looking ahead. The next opportunity is what I really want them to focus on and reminding them that it is a process.

While Jensen recognizes the challenge of playing against the talented teams coming into the Big Ten, she chooses to emphasize the potential of her players. She noted:

It’s always a journey and the Big Ten got tougher. The players are really really good. It is just really challenging them to stay in this moment because if you listen too much to everybody telling you how great everybody else is and how much you lost, then it can seem be a little heavy. I just like how they are leaning into, “They got next.” I want them to really embrace that because we have added some great teams. I have the utmost respect for all four of those coaches and their programs, but we also have amazing teams still here. I mean Brenda (Frese) at Maryland, they’re great. Teri Moren at Indiana [is] great. We’ve had a great league [and] every game is going to be a challenge, but that’s what makes it fun. I just keep reminding them to embrace this moment and who they are. I think if everybody will just let this year’s team be this year’s team and not the one back there and not projecting what they should do or could be, but let this all kind of ruminate and kind of start figuring it out, I really think they can have a nice level of success despite how great all the schools are.

Among the players returning are forwards Hannah Stuelke, AJ Ediger and Addison O’Grady, as well as guards Syd Affolter, Taylor McCabe and Kylie Feuerbach. Stuelke and Affolter are expected to take on leadership roles, although Affolter is out until early November after undergoing knee surgery.

Stuelke is a fan favorite who generally lets her game do the talking for her. She is known for scoring in bunches in the paint, being solid in transition and providing consistent rebounding. Last year, she scored 20-plus points eight times and 10-plus points in 25 games. Stuelke unleashed a 47-point performance against Penn State, the second-highest point total scored in Carver Hawkeye Arena. Given her experience, she is adamant about proving the naysayers wrong, telling Swish Appeal:

I am ready to get out there and show everybody what I’ve got. I think a lot of people are doubting that we will be good or whatever because Caitlin’s gone. I think I was right there behind her for most of the games where she’d have 35 and I had 20. I am just excited to show people what I’ve got.

The Hawkeyes effectively utilized the transfer portal to make up for critical losses. They snatched up Lucy Olsen from Villanova, who can score effectively from the mid-range. Last year, she finished third in the nation in scoring at 23.3 points per game. She also left Villanova as the program’s ninth all-time leading scorer with 1,504 points. Olsen is known for having an upbeat personality. She is someone who always seems to enjoy being on the floor, no matter the circumstances. She shared:

I’ve always been a smiling person on the court. I don’t realize it. At Villanova, I would have the worst game ever and the people were like, “Sorry you loss, but it looked like you had fun.” I was like, “I did?” I did not have too much. I hate losing and I played horrible. I think it is just nature that I’m smiling. I love basketball so much and to be able to play it every night, I am really having fun.

At Villanova, Olsen was accustomed to playing at a more methodical pace. This time around, she will be playing for a program which prioritizes quickness. She explained:

It is different at Villanova, at Villanova it was slow pace. If we were in transition we would go, but if not we would slow down and set up a play. “Alright, let’s use the shot clock until we get something really good.” But here it has been super different. “Alright, we are looking for transition first. If we don’t have anything, go with the secondary.”

The Hawkeyes’ success also has helped the program attract top recruits. One of those was Ava Heiden. The 6-foot-4 post player from Sherwood, Oregon averaged 17.2 points, 11.3 rebounds, 4.0 steals, 3.0 assists and 2.8 blocks at Sherwood High School. According to ESPN’s HoopGurlz, she was the No. 42 overall prospect in the nation. And despite what some would expect, it wasn’t the high-profile attention of the program, but the people within the program, that inspired Heiden to come to Iowa City. At Media Day, she emphasized:

The hype and popularity wasn’t something that really drew me here, it was the people and the players and the staff. Being able to play with them is what excites me most coming in at this time.

Heiden is expected to compliment Stuelke in the post. So far, she has managed to take pointers from her during practice, noting:

It’s been super fun, especially when she plays the 4 position and we are in together. She’s a great driver and so she will give me the little dish passes or I’ll set a screen for her. I think we are meshing really well together.

As a freshman, Heiden looks forward to debuting against the prominent programs that are new to the Big Ten, including the one from her home state. She shared:

I think it is super cool, especially Oregon, because I can fly home and see my friends and family and all that. I think that we can definitely say that the Big Ten is the best conference.

Like her new coach and fellow teammates, Heiden also is focused on taking the pressure off and just playing basketball, saying:

I say my mantra is “Work hard and have fun.” That’s something that my parents always taught me and so I try to keep that on the forefront of my mind when playing basketball. I can’t control anything outside of what’s on the court, sometimes even stuff on the court. All I can do is work hard and have fun.

The Iowa Hawkeyes will play their first game against the Northern Illinois Huskies on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

It was a back-and-forth affair with both teams going on runs, but in crunch time, the No. 1-seed New York Liberty were just a hair sharper than the No. 2-seed Minnesota Lynx, winning on the road 80-77 to take a 2-1 series lead in the 2024 WNBA Finals.

Sabrina Ionescu made the biggest shot of her career, hitting a dagger 3-pointer over Kayla McBride near the top of the logo to seal the result.

Ionescu’s moment reminded me of two Michaels. First, as she jogged back to the other side of the court after the dagger, she had her tongue out like vintage Michael Jordan. Then, she stared down the crowd like Michael Myers: emotionless, inevitable, horrific.

During a sideline interview with ESPN’s Holly Rowe, Ionescu discussed why she took a logo 3-pointer with the game on the line, explaining:

I trust in my preparation. I’m built for this moment. I missed one that could’ve sealed the game, and I just got an open look, and I trusted that I could make it. My teammates got me open, and, God, it feels good to get a win.

Ionescu ended the night with 13 points, five rebounds and six assists.

But it wasn’t just the Ionescu show. It took all of New York to rally in the fourth and earn the win. Breanna Stewart had a game-high 30 points, along with 11 rebounds, and Jonquel Jones came up big, scoring five of her 13 in the final quarter. On the Minnesota side, they played a complete game. Four starters were in double figures, and Napheesa Collier led the way with 22 points, nine rebounds and five steals. They were just out-executed late, similar to what happened to New York in Game 1.

This series is far from done, as the Lynx will host the must-win Game 4 on Friday. At this point, it’s simple: a loss ends their season and gives the Liberty their first WNBA title, and a win forces a Game 5 in New York on Sunday.

Minnesota’s hot start

Things didn’t end how the Lynx wanted, but they certainly started well, going on a 21-7 run to begin the game. In the past two Finals games, New York got going early. Now, the Lynx were in control and looked primed to win Game 3.

Starter-turned-reserve Courtney Vandersloot helped stop the bleeding for New York, scoring five points in the closing minutes of the quarter to bring the deficit down to 10 heading into the second. Nyara Sabally was coming up big for the Liberty defensively and also scored a pair of field goals in the second quarter. Yet, the Lynx kept the advantage and entered the half up by eight points.

However, a serious wrinkle in this game, and potentially the rest of the series, is Alanna Smith’s injury. She appeared to fall hard on the floor in the second quarter and injure her back. She was able to play the rest of the game, but looked limited and in pain. Her status and effectiveness for Game 4 will be critical for Minnesota.

New York’s comeback

Midway through the third, the Liberty finally started to chip away at the deficit. Stewart scored seven points as part of an 11-5 New York run that got the Liberty within five points with 3:20 left in the quarter. The Lynx threw cold water on this hot streak, scoring five unanswered and bringing their advantage back to double digits. The Liberty called timeout and then made their real run.

Leonie Fiebich, known more for her defense, contributed a 3-pointer, Ionescu added a 3 of her own and Stewart closed the quarter with five-straight points. Suddenly, the Lynx lead was down to the slimmest of margins, one point heading into the final frame.

The back-and-forth final stretch

The opening minutes of the fourth were intense, but ugly. Neither team scored during the first two minutes of action. Collier ended the drought with a nice finish near the rim. Stewart countered with a jumper, which Courtney Williams then responded to with a 3-pointer. Stewart was relentless, however, and hit another shot from downtown, evening the score at 66 with 6:57 left to play. Minnesota was up 71-69 at the 6:06 mark, and we had another scoring drought until Williams scored for the Lynx with 2:52 left in the game.

Clutch time saw elite play on both sides of the ball. It was poetry in motion, the kind of game the basketball gods likely replay in perpetuity. Jones scored on an Ionescu dime to give New York its first lead since the game’s opening minute. After another 3-pointer from Ionescu, the Liberty were up 77-73 with 55 seconds left, and suddenly, the Lynx were scrambling and searching for answers.

They found one in Bridget Carleton, who got Minnesota a bucket. After another defensive stop, Collier was fouled on the other end of the floor and hit a pair of free throws to tie things up at 77 with 16 seconds left.

Then, the climax of the game occurred. The Lynx had a foul to give and used it, giving the Liberty just 10.9 seconds to score. Ionescu inbounded the ball to Fiebich, who gave it right back to Ionescu, and the rest, as they say, is history. Minnesota still had a second left and attempted a game-winner, but McBride didn’t get a good look and was unable to force overtime.

Closing thoughts

What a game it was. Things are far from done, but the Liberty are in the driver’s seat. Minnesota will now have to show they are ready for this moment and respond with their best game of the year on Friday. Expect a big game from Collier, clutch shooting from Williams and, hopefully, a healthy Smith.

For the Liberty, this moment is 28 years in the making. They are just one win away from the title that has eluded them since the inaugural WNBA season, which ended with them losing in the Finals to the Houston Comets. On Friday, they can write their own history. Stewart can win her third title and continue building her GOAT case, while Ionescu can deliver the ring many expected her to win when she joined the W back in 2020.

The job’s not finished and the Lynx are far from done.

Congratulations to the Las Vegas Aces’ A’ja Wilson, Minnesota Lynx’s Napheesa Collier, New York Liberty’s Breanna Stewart, Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark and Connecticut Sun’s Alyssa Thomas, the five members of the 2024 All-WNBA First Team.

Wilson, the unanimous MVP, and Collier, the MVP runner-up and Defensive Player of the Year, were unanimous selections. It is Wilson’s third-straight and fourth-overall First Team honor, while Collier takes a First Team spot for the second-straight season.

Stewart earns her sixth First Team selection with 65 of 67 First Team votes. With 52 First Team votes, Clark becomes the first rookie to make the First Team since Candace Parker in 2008. Thomas, the recipient of 39 First Team votes, makes the First Team for the second-consecutive season.

The Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu (15 First Team votes; 43 Second Team votes), Phoenix Mercury’s Kahleah Copper (4; 49), Seattle Storm’s Nneka Ogwumike (11; 33), Dallas Wings’ Arike Ogunbowale (4; 29) and Liberty’s Jonquel Jones (3; 29) comprise the 2024 All-WNBA Second Team. This the seventh overall All-WNBA honor for Ogwumike, the fifth for Jones and the third for Ionescu and Ogunbowale, while Copper receives her first All-WNBA selection.