Team Profile: Fenerbahce
ISTANBUL (EuroLeague Women 2017) – Next in line are Istanbul juggernauts Fenerbahce, whose search for an elusive first title in the competition continues during EuroLeague Women 2017.
Last season: Fenerbahce posted a very successful domestic season which harvested plenty of silverware for returning play-caller George Dikeoulakos. He also guided them to their usual spot in the Final Four, but they were beaten by Nadezhda in the Semi-Finals on their own floor as the hosts and had to settle for third place.
Roster: While there have been some changes, the main spine of the team is back in situ at Fenerbahce alongside some nice additions. The frontcourt in particular looks very interesting with WNBA Championship-chasing Los Angeles Sparks colleagues Jantel Lavender and Sandrine Gruda brought together after the latter opted to move to Istanbul. Belarusian forward Anastasiya Verameyenka has also opted to return along with Lavender, while the backcourt sees Birsel Vardarli Demirmen continue to offer her veteran playmaking skills, with Alexandria Quigley providing the outside threat.
The club have also swooped to bolster their guard rotations with another Turkey national team in Ayse Cora, as well as the highly-rated Pelin Bilgic who is now expected to take a big step in her career. There is also a change on the wing as the WNBA-experienced Shekinna Stricklen prepares to make her EuroLeague Women debut after competing in South Korea during recent seasons.
Key player: While the signature of Gruda is one of the biggest stories of the EuroLeague Women off-season, it is her Los Angeles Sparks’ team-mate Jantel Lavender who arguably remains the most important player for Fenerbahce. Arguably, nobody in the entire competition has recorded the same level of outstanding displays and consistency in recent seasons. Her all-round play, especially her finishing and shooting percentages, have been phenomenal, making her an anchor in the paint.
‘X-Factor’: Sandrine Gruda arrives in Istanbul after many seasons playing at the dominant UMMC Ekaterinburg and off the back of an injury which marred much of 2015-16 for her. Lots will hinge on the French frontcourt heavyweight getting back to top form as one of the world’s absolute best and showing the hunger to excel in this intriguing new chapter of her career.
Stat attack: Fenerbahce are searching for what would be a staggering sixth consecutive place at the Final Four.
Social media stars: Go for Sandrine Gruda [Sandrine_Gruda] on twitter or Jantel Lavender [jantellav] on Instagram.
Outlook: It would be a major upset if Fenerbahce don’t book their customary spot in the Final Four as they have a great coach in Dikeoulakos, another stacked roster of top class players and some of the most exciting rising stars of Turkish basketball. It remains to be seen if those young guns can fire enough to really give Fenerbahce the edge, but with an outstanding core rotation and mouth-watering starting/finishing five combinations, they have to be labelled as one of the favourites yet again. Especially because of their amazing home record, which rarely sees losses during the Regular Season.
FIBA
