ACES ABROAD: Euroleague & EuroCup Update, Oct. 24, 2018

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 2018-19 season, 20 teams were vying for the EuroLeague championship. Twelve of those teams had byes into the regular season, while six additional teams participated in a late-September-early October qualifying round. The top four finishers in the qualifying round advanced to the regular season.

The 16 teams are broken up into two groups of eight for the regular season which runs through February 20. The top four teams from each group qualify for the quarterfinals, which begin March 5. The Final Four is slated for April 12, with the Finals scheduled for April 14.

Kayla McBride (UMMC Ekaterinburg), Kelsey Bone (Polkowice), and Kelsey Plum (Fenerbahce) all play in the EuroLeague, and their games are broadcast live on YouTube (links included below).

The EuroCup is an annual second-tier level competition in Europe. At the start of the 2018-19 season, 40 teams were vying for the EuroCup championship. Thirty-two of those teams had byes into the regular season. They are joined by the four teams that didn’t advance out of the EuroLeaguea Qualifying Round, and an additional four teams that advanced through a EuroCup Qualifying Round.

The forty teams are broken up into 10 groups of four teams each for the regular season, which ends in late fall. The playoffs run throughout the winter, with the Final Four and Championship game typically being played in early April.

Moriah Jefferson (Galatasaray) plays in the EuroCup.

Check the official online home of the Aces each week for updates on how your favorite players are performing in their adopted countries.

EUROLEAGUE

EuroLeague Standings
GROUP A
1 UMMC Ekaterinburg 1-0 2
2 ZVVZ USK Praha 1-0 2
3 Bourges Basket 1-0 2
4 Nadezhda 0-1 1
5 CCC Polkowice 0-1 1
6 Famila Schio 0-1 1
7 ESBVA-LM 0-0 0
8 Castors Braine 0-0 0
GROUP B
1 Fenerbahce 1-0 2
2 Carolo Basket 1-0 2
3 Dynamo Kursk 1-0 2
4 TTT Riga 0-1 1
5 Sopron Basket 0-1 1
6 Olympiacos 0-1 1
7 Perfumerias Avenida o-0 0
8 Hatay BB 0-0 0

 

Kelsey Bone—CCC Polkowice (0-1)
Schedule Link  (watch live on YouTube)
Recent Game: October 24, L, 73-56, vs. Bourges Basket
9 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists
box score link
x
Next Game: November 1 at UMMC Ekaterinburg

 

Kelsey Plum—Fenerbahce (1-0)
Schedule Link  (watch live  on YouTube)
Next Game: October 24, W, 63-54, vs. Olympiacos
20 points, 4 assists
box score link
Next Game: October 31 at Perfurmerias Avenida

 

Kayla McBride—UMMC Ekaterinburg (1-0)
Schedule Link  (watch live  on YouTube)
Recent Game: October 24,  W, 99-51, vs. ESBVA LM
13 points, 5 assists, 3 steals
box score link
X
Upcoming Game: November 1 vs. CCC Polkowice

 

EUROCUP

EuroLeague Standings
GROUP B
1 Galatasaray 1-0
2 Energa Torun 0-0
3 MBA 0-0
4 Niki Lefkadas 0-1

 

Moriah Jefferson—Galatasaray (1-0)
Next Game: October 24, W, 81-61, at Niki Lefkadas
21 points, 3 assists, 7 steals
box score link
October 31, vs. Energy Torun