Italian Super Cup September 22nd-23rd
The season opening tournament had their semifinals on Friday before the final on Saturday. With teams not at full strength yet, Sassari was looking to upset the defending champions, but Schio held on to a 57-55 win. Venezia had the better start in the second game, but Olbis Andre’ and Bologna seized the lead by halftime on their way to a 74-65 win. That set up a rematch of last season’s championship series and Lauren Cox helped Bologna avenge that defeat to Schio to lift the season’s first trophy.
September 22
https://www.legabasketfemminile.com/MatchStats.aspx?ID=302&MID=52391
Schio [57]: Reisingerova 18/8r Guirantes 9 Penna 1
Sassari [55]: Raca 16 Carangelo 16 Hollingshed 7
https://www.legabasketfemminile.com/MatchStats.aspx?ID=302&MID=52392
Venezia [65]: Makurat 14 Berkani 12 Villa 12 Pan 9 Cubaj 5/10r
Bologna [74]: Andre’ 20/9r Zandalasini 17/6a Dojkic 15/6r Cox 11/8r Peters 9/6r
September 23
https://www.legabasketfemminile.com/MatchStats.aspx?ID=302&MID=52393
Schio [65]: Guirantes 16/8r Reisingerova 15 Verona 10 Sottana 10 Penna 0
Bologna [70]: Cox 21/11r Dojkic 14 Zandalasini 11 Peters 5/6r
Turkish League Round 3 September 22nd-24th
This round started on Friday with Emma Meesseman and Alperi Onar helping Fenerbahce prepare for a big next game with a 98-52 win. The first game on Saturday was between teams in the middle of continental qualifiers and Kelsey Bone and Destanni Henderson led Antalya past Mihaela Lazic, Jovana Nogic, and Besiktas 82-77. WNBA reinforcements arrived for both teams as Orman defeated Botas 75-62. Having been handed an administrative forfeit for the opener this past week, Cukurova faced shorthanded Hatay, which had Alexis Tolefree and Katrina Pardee trying to keep them in the game, but it was not enough in a 107-74 defeat. On Sunday, Cankaya University added Vionise Pierre-Louis to their lineup, but Ilayda Guner and Nesibe Aydin won 83-76. Galatasaray had Mikiah Herbert Harrigan and Hind Ben Abdelkader firing, but lost to Izmit 73-61. Aaryn Ellenberg-Wiley was brilliant and Kayseri closed the day with an 80-59 win over Tarsus.
September 22
https://tbf.org.tr/ligler/kbsl-2023-2024/mac-detay/197239/istatistik
Fenerbahce [98]: Meesseman 27/9r/7a Onar 20 Senyurek 19/7r Laksa 11/6r Uzun 10/6a
Emlak Konut [52]: Basaran 14/13r Wiese 14 Gul 5
September 23
https://tbf.org.tr/ligler/kbsl-2023-2024/mac-detay/197241/istatistik
Antalya [82]: Bone 31/14r Henderson 20/7r/8a Sheppard 16
Besiktas [77]: Lazic 31/7r Nogic 20/9r/7a Krivacevic 13/10r
https://tbf.org.tr/ligler/kbsl-2023-2024/mac-detay/197242/istatistik
Orman [75]: Onyenwere 19 Dantas 16/16r Katanic 11 Sutton 9/9r
Botas [62]: Weaver 19/11r Fitzgerald 11/7a Mandiraci 10 Reimer 4/7r Holmes 2/6r
https://tbf.org.tr/ligler/kbsl-2023-2024/mac-detay/197245/istatistik
Cukurova [107]: Iagupova 16 Atas 14 Kiss 12/8r Avci 12/7r Gulcan 12 Hollingsworth 8 Cornelius 8
Hatay [74]: Tolefree 34 Pardee 30
September 24
https://tbf.org.tr/ligler/kbsl-2023-2024/mac-detay/197240/istatistik
Cankaya Universitesi [76]: Pierre-Louis 27/14r McCarty-Williams 16/6r/9a Ugur 11 Fontaine 7/6r Yalcinkaya 6
Nesibe Aydin [83]: Guner 21/9r Bilgic 16/8r/6a Thomas 16/8a Sutherland 11/9r Duman 10
https://tbf.org.tr/ligler/kbsl-2023-2024/mac-detay/197243/istatistik
Galatasaray [61]: Herbert Harrigan 21/10r Ben Abdelkader 21
Izmit [73]: Nared 18/6r Hillsman 16/12r Calhoun 16/11r Cora 11
https://tbf.org.tr/ligler/kbsl-2023-2024/mac-detay/197244/istatistik
Kayseri [80]: Ellenberg-Wiley 31 Petronyte 16/7r Richardson 10/11r
Tarsus [59]: Cave 19/10r Bogicevic 17/8r
Spanish League Round 1 September 22nd-24th
The season started on Friday with Valencia hosting league newcomers Celta and the visitors put up a fight before the defending champions pulled away for a 76-47 win. On Saturday, both teams were waiting for late roster news as Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu arrived for her overseas debut in Ibaeta’s 64-60 win over Bembibre, which did get a professional debut from Marnelle Garraud. Grace Berger made her overseas debut in Gernika’s 71-57 win over Ensino. Ferrol marked their return to the top division and Myah Selland made her professional debut in their 70-66 win over Araski behind Claudia Soriano. Zaragoza is looking to establish themselves this season and Nerea Hermosa made her professional debut in her home country in their big 65-38 win over Girona. Sunday’s action started in Salamanca with Avenida’s 72-52 win with debuts for Gran Canaria as Naomie Alnatas and Iris Mbulito made professional debuts and Jade Loville made her overseas debut. Barcelona had their share of drama in the offseason, but returned with a 66-63 win with a trio of Miami teammates in Karla Erjavec, Destiny Harden, and Lola Pendande joining each other for another season while Sedis handed professional debuts to Maggie Bair and Lotta Maj-Lahtinen. The day ended in Madrid with Jairis leaving after a 67-62 win over Estudiantes.
September 22
https://baloncestoenvivo.feb.es/Partido.aspx?p=2344799
Valencia [76]: Gulich 11/6r Torrens 11 Carrera 11 Fingall 11 Hempe 5 Romero 4
Celta [47]: Samson 13 Musa 10/15r Trahan-Davis 6
September 23
https://baloncestoenvivo.feb.es/Partido.aspx?p=2344796
Ibaeta [64]: Whalen 14/8r Almendro 14 Prieto 8 Tunstull 6/8r Fankam Mendjiadeu 6 Alonso de Armino 0
Bembibre [60]: Rivers 19/9r Garraud 13 Kroselj 12/8r Soeiro 6 Otto 2
https://baloncestoenvivo.feb.es/Partido.aspx?p=2344800
Gernika [71]: Berger 12 Madera 11 Silva 9/9r Flores 8 Nikitinaite 5 Bjorklund 4 Bradford 4
Ensino [57]: Giomi 16 Tate 14 Herlihy 6 Olaeta 4 Muhate 4 Castedo 2
https://baloncestoenvivo.feb.es/Partido.aspx?p=2344794
Araski [66]: Hill 14 Hermida 12 Seda 9/9r Van Den Adel 9 Brewer 7/6r Alarcon 6
Ferrol [70]: Soriano 20/7r Mestres 13 Howard 11 Kalin 9 Fequiere 7 Selland 5 Aijanen 3 Gomez 3 Pospisilova 0
https://baloncestoenvivo.feb.es/Partido.aspx?p=2344801
Zaragoza [65]: Fiebich 14/6r Gimeno 12 Gulbe 8 Atkinson 6 Geldof 4 Hermosa 2
Girona [38]: Magarity 10/13r Tolo 4/6r
September 24
https://baloncestoenvivo.feb.es/Partido.aspx?p=2344798
Avenida [72]: Fasoula 17/6r Hartley 12 Prince 11/7r Rodriguez 9 Cakir 5 Vilaro 3
Gran Canaria [52]: Loville 14 Fall 10/10r Alnatas 8 Mbulito 5 Daniel 2/6r
https://baloncestoenvivo.feb.es/Partido.aspx?p=2344795
Barcelona [66]: Ginzo 19/6r Rakovic 17 Harden 12 Erjavec 6 Pendande 5/9r Anderson 3
Sedis [63]: Bair 13/7r Soler 11 Lahtinen 7 Grande 4 Brotons 3 Campisano 2
https://baloncestoenvivo.feb.es/Partido.aspx?p=2344797
Estudiantes [62]: Mendez 15 Whittle 11/9r Massey 10 Erauncetamurgil 10 Camilion 5 Mollenhauer 0 Zaragoza 0
Jairis [67]: Evans 15/7r Rembiszewska 14/8r Konig 13 Bishop 9 Carter 7 Ayuso 4 Diarra 3 Davison 0
French League Round 1 September 23rd-24th
The league started with most games played on Saturday, including Lattes Montpellier’s 68-49 win over Nausia Woolfolk and Landerneau. Tarbes shook off some offseason difficulties to continue their time in the top division, but lost to Villeneuve-d’Ascq 74-50. Charnay returned to the top tier and got a good overseas debut from Kayana Traylor, but Kadi Sissoko played her first game as a professional in her home country and Charleville-Mezieres won 92-75. Angers defeated Saint-Amand 62-50. Assitan Kone and Roche took advantage of Lyon still being depleted to win 66-58. Kamile Nacickaite led Bourges in front of their usual fantastic home crowd in an 88-70 win over Landes on Sunday.
September 23
https://basketlfb.com/match/744224-lattes-montpellier-landerneau
Lattes Montpellier [68]: Badiane 14/10r Alston 14 Toure 13 Jenkins 9/10r
Landerneau [49]: Woolfolk 23 Okonkwo 9 Barahman 6 Trasi 0
https://basketlfb.com/match/744225-tarbes-villeneuve-d-ascq
Tarbes [50]: Malonga 12 Yacoubou 10/10r Leite 10/6a Foppossi 9/6r
Villeneuve-d’Ascq [74]: Diaby 14 Burke 12/6a Smalls 10 Hirsch 7 Zellous 6
https://basketlfb.com/match/744226-charleville-mezieres-charnay
Charleville-Mezieres [92]: Walker 18/14r Franchelin 16 Bouderra 16 Bulgak 15/7r Brochant 10 Sissoko 8 Colley 6
Charnay [75]: Traylor 21 Vilka 12 Thomas 9 Muzet 5 Djaldi-Tabdi 3
https://basketlfb.com/match/744227-angers-saint-amand
Angers [62]: Wojta 15/10r Elenga 15 Kaba 11/9r Bailey 7
Saint-Amand [50]: Tahane 18/6r Dean 11 Green 5/6r Grays 5
https://basketlfb.com/match/744228-roche-vendee-lyon
Roche [66]: Kone 20 Clarke 17/13r Suarez 11 Adams 6/8r
Lyon [58]: Fauthoux 17/6r/6a Chery 11/9r Quevedo 9/6r
September 24
https://basketlfb.com/match/744223-bourges-basket-landes
Bourges [88]: Nacickaite 22 Alexander 15/12r Michel 15/10r/6a Pouye 11 Spanou 10 Mann 10
Landes [70]: Fuehring 15 Ewodo 10 Salvadores 9 Geiselsoder 7 Peterson 6
World of Basketball
Americas
The final day of the regular season in Puerto Rico was Tuesday with seeding and a playoff spot on the line. Both games tipped off at the same time, but the game for the 2 seed and a bye concluded first as Carolina defeated Santurce. Hatillo was fighting for the 3 seed while Isabela needed to win to having to play a tiebreaker game, but they fell short. That resulted in the game on Wednesday and Morovis continued to look dangerous with their win sneaking them into the playoffs after a tough start. The playoffs started on Thursday with Santurce winning at Moca, but the series could not continue on Saturday due to virus cases. Hatillo opened at home with a win on Friday against Morovis, which got 31 points from Pamela Rosado on Sunday to force overtime and even up the series. The chaos then hit this series when the lights went out in Hatillo in the fourth quarter of the deciding game on Monday.
Aguada finished the sweep in their semifinals series in Uruguay against Defensor Sporting on Friday. The silver group started play on Saturday when Hebraica Macabi managed to grind out a win over Remeros Mercedes. Lagomar used a big comeback late to defeat 25 de Agosto.
Around Europe
More leagues started play this past week, including those in Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Lithuania, and Luxembourg. The latter has a tendency for big statlines, including Karly Murphy turning in a 31 point, 22 rebound effort for Contern. The Super Cup was held in North Macedonia on Saturday and Skopje knew that they would have a tough time with Kam, letting Marija Miteva try to keep them in it, but 31 points from her was not nearly enough. Portugal had their version on Sunday and it went to overtime before Quinta Dos Lombos defeated GDESSA-Barreiro. Cup competitions also started in Germany, Greece, and Romania.
Cross national competitions also started, including the Adriatic, which includes a team from Austria this year and Graz fit in immediately and defeated Plamen Pozega of Croatia on Wednesday. After success on the men’s side, the Alpe Adria Cup is also being awarded on the women’s side with eight teams split into two groups. Piestanske Cajky hosted Group A in Slovakia this weekend and defeated Tresnjevka of Croatia in the first game on Saturday before Triglav of Slovenia defeated St. Polten of Austria. Triglav also defeated Tresnjevka on Sunday and Piestanske Cajky is also perfect after a win over St. Polten. Maribor hosted Group B in Slovenia, but lost the nightcap to Slovakia’s Slavia Banska Bystrica while Croatia’s Split defeated Klosterneuburg of Austria. The two first day winners met on Sunday with Slavia Banska Bystrica defeating Split and Klosterneuburg got on the board with a win over Maribor.
The Chase for Promotion
Besides the top division league in each country, federations with lots of teams often organize lower level divisions. We cover many of the competitions that have consistent statistical availability and a clear path to the division above as teams fight to either return to the top level or to bring their clubs to new heights. One of the league where teams are looking to make a big step up is in Turkey’s second division as teams look to climb to one of the top leagues in the world, although some teams are the reserve squads of teams in the highest division and cannot be promoted regardless of result. They only have one foreign player slot to use and that player is usually expected to shoulder the load for the team. That was certainly the case over the opening weekend as Kamaria McDaniel had 37 points to lead Yalova to a win. Aliyah Maczyk also had 37 points as one of the players with experience in this competition and Zakyia Weathersby grabbed 20 rebounds.
Eurobasket Qualifiers
The draw for the qualifying groups for the 2025 tournament was conducted on Tuesday on the same day as draws for other FIBA events. When the hosts were announced, a new format was introduced for qualifying. Instead of having the hosts in groups with qualifying teams, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, and Greece will be in their own group, guaranteeing six competitive games as they prepare for the main tournament and hope to advance to the final stage in Greece. The rest of the process will also be simplified with each group containing four teams, meaning that eight group winners and four runners up will qualify. That means that no qualified teams can distort the process and no results will need to be removed to even up the tiebreaking criteria. Here are the groups with teams listed in seed order:
A: Spain, Croatia, Netherlands, Austria
B: Hungary, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Finland
C: Belgium, Poland, Lithuania, Azerbaijan
D: Great Britain, Sweden, Denmark, Estonia
E: France, Latvia, Israel, Ireland
F: Turkey, Slovakia, Romania, Iceland
G: Serbia, Ukraine, Portugal, North Macedonia
H: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Switzerland, Luxembourg
Women's Basketball News and Opinions 