11 October, 2016
16 April, 2017
7 Sandrine Gruda (FRA)
27/09/2016
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Fenerbahce set to be frontrunners with Gruda and Stricklen

ISTANBUL (EuroLeague Women 2017) – Fenerbahce fans look to be in for another treat this season as the Istanbul powerhouse prepares to try and firstly secure what has become a customary place at the EuroLeague Women Final Four and perhaps even deliver an elusive maiden title.

Head coach George Dikeoulakos has been given another chance to try and deliver the silverware that all Fenerbahce fans have been craving and the play-caller will have even more talent at his disposal this time around.

That's because the club have added real quality, with the addition of Les Bleues ace Sandrine Gruda and WNBA wing Shekinna Stricklen. They are two moves which could ultimately prove to be the difference, as Fenerbahce plot to dethrone reigning champions UMMC Ekaterinburg – Gruda's former club.

En route pour la cérémonie d'ouverture! #Maracana #Rio2016 #allbleus #franceolympique

A photo posted by Sandrine Gruda (@sandrine_gruda) on



Renowned as one of the leading players of her generation and having played recently in Rio, Gruda adds an incredible amount of class to the Fenerbahce frontcourt and it gives Coach Dikeoulakos some incredible rotation options.

Especially with Belarusian star Anastasiya Verameyenka and the hugely consistent Jantel Lavender back on board. It also means that Gruda can link up with her Los Angeles Sparks team-mate, with Lavender playing alongside her on the USA’s west coast.

The arrival of Stricklen will also be interesting as she has never played in EuroLeague Women previously – preferring to play her basketball in the WKBL for the past three seasons in Korea. However, the current Connecticut Suns player does know Turkish basketball from her first pro-season overseas when she represented Homend Antakya Belediyesi and also competed in EuroCup Women.



With Allie Quigley having been retained and Fenerbahce making moves for some fine domestic talent in the likes of Pelin Bilgic and Ayse Cora, as well as continuing with national team players Birsel Vardarli Demirmen and Tugce Canitez, hopes are high that the team has an excellent chance of pushing for honours – even if they will have stiff competition as always from elsewhere on the continent.

yeni sezonun ilk hazirlik macina galibiyetle basladik:) guzel sezonlar herkese🙏🏻😇🏀

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"It's been a fantastic year after we received three trophies and finished third in Europe," reiterated the club’s General Manager, Didem Akin.

"We want to repeat the same success this season and we aim to do even better.

"Our first goal is to stay in the Final Four and especially as the Russian teams are making very substantial investments.

"[As champions] UMMC Ekaterinburg have retained the same playing staff, while Dynamo Kursk have made significant investments. Therefore, the primary goal has to be staying in that top four and then after this, it’s very unpredictable and anything can happen.

"But perhaps we can play in another EuroLeague Women Final again," added Akin.

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