Where In The World Are The Aces?
Many WNBA players take their talents overseas during the “offseason,” and the Aces are no exception. In addition to playing in country-specific leagues, some teams also participate in the EuroLeague and EuroCup.
The EuroLeague is the highest professional basketball league in Europe. At the start of the 2021-22 season, 20 teams were vying for the EuroLeague championship. Of those 20 teams, 14 had byes into the regular season, while 6 additional teams participated in late-September qualifying games to determine the final 2 participants.
The 16 teams are broken up into 2 groups of 8 for the regular season which runs from early October through February 1. The top 4 teams from each group qualify for the quarterfinals, which are slated for February 23-March 9. The Semifinals are scheduled for April 8, with the Finals taking place on April 10.
Kelsey Plum (Galatasaray) and Kiah Stokes (Fenerbahce) are playing in the EuroLeague this season. Riquna Williams played for Galatasary earlier in the year.
The EuroCup is an annual second-tier level competition in Europe. At the start of the 2021-22 season, 48 teams were vying for the EuroCup championship.
From mid-October to December 2, 12 groups of 4 teams compete in the regular season. The playoffs feature the top 32 teams, and run from December 15-April 6.
Destiny Slocum (Kayseri) played in the EuroCup this season, but her team failed to advance to the playoffs.
ADDENDUM
On March 2, the FIBA Europe Executive Committee removed all Russian teams in FIBA Europe club competitions until further notice, and added Galatasaray and a handful of other teams to the EuroCup playoffs “in view of recent events in Ukraine.”
EUROLEAGUE
Kelsey Plum—Galatasaray (5-9) |
Schedule Link |
x |
EuroLeague Averages |
15.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.8 apg |
x |
Next Game |
Did Not Make Playoffs |
Kiah Stokes—Fenerbahce (11-3) |
Schedule Link |
xx |
EuroLeague Averages |
3.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg |
x |
Recent Quarterfinals Games |
Mar. 8—W, 77-56, vs. TTT Riga |
Did Not Play |
Box Score |
x |
Mar. 10—W, 88-65, vs. TTT Riga |
Did Not Play |
Box Score |
x |
Next Semifinals Game |
Apr. 8 vs. TBD |
EuroLeague Standings |
||
GROUP A |
||
1 | UMMC Ekaterinburg | 14-0 |
2 | Perfumerias Avenida | 11-3 |
3 | ZVVZ USK Praha | 10-4 |
4 | BLMA | 6-8 |
5 | TTT Riga | 6-8 |
6 | Umana Reyer | 4-9 |
7 | MBA Moscow | 4-9 |
8 | KSC Szekszard | 0-13 |
GROUP B |
||
1 | Fenerbahce | 11-3 |
2 | Sopron Basket | 8-6 |
3 | Beretta Famila Schio | 8-6 |
4 | Dynamo Kursk | 8-6 |
5 | Spar Girona | 7-6 |
6 | Basket Landes | 6-7 |
7 | Galatasaray | 5-9 |
8 | Arka Gdynia | 2-12 |
EUROCUP
Kelsey Plum—Galatasaray |
x |
EuroCup Averages |
31.0 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 5.5 apg |
x |
Recent Quarterfinals Games |
Mar. 16—W, 76-69, vs. KSC Szekszard |
28 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists |
Box Score |
x |
Next Semifinals Game |
Apr. 5 vs. TBD |