PRAGUE (EuroLeague Women 2017) - We continue to move through Group A by profiling the EuroLeague Women 2015 winners and perennial Czech Republic champions ZVVZ USK Prague, who are keeping faith in last year’s personnel.

Last season: The Regular Season had some ups and downs as they finished with six losses, although many were tight ones. That left them with a tricky post-season clash against Schio, but they prevailed to make the Final Four in Istanbul. However, the defence of their 2015 title was ended in the Semi-Finals by eventual winners UMMC Ekaterinburg, who avenged their loss in the 2015 Final.

Roster: It's more of the same for fans in the Czech capital since the club have completed a rare feat in the sport by actually keeping together a successful roster. It's something which speaks volumes about the club itself and head coach, Natalie Hejkova - as well as the players who seem to enjoy life in a Prague vest. The big-hitters are back in situ right down the spine of the team, starting with Spanish backcourt pair and Rio silver medallists, Laia Palau and Marta Xargay. Olympic bronze winner Sonja Petrovic will continue patrolling the wings and American pair Candice Dupree and Kia Vaughn will look to wreak some havoc in the paint alongside Latvian center Anete Steinberga, who has come alive since her mid-season move to Prague last year.

The Czech players will also be important, with Alena Hanusova able to run the floor and inject some transition when opportunities arrive, Ilona Burgrova always up for the physical battle and Karolina Elhotova and Tereza Vyoralova both impressing in the past month, perhaps signalling they are able to push for more minutes.

Key player: It has to be Sonja Petrovic because when the Serbian ace puts it together, there are few better players to watch on the planet - let alone in EuroLeague Women. Her influence is enormous and in the past 18 month, even taking into account injuries, she has been playing some of the best basketball in her career which has harvested silverware and historic success for club and country.

She is at the heart of this Prague team and when she is smiling and playing well, the Czech side can look special and shift up to a higher gear.

'X-Factor': Alena Hanusova seems to be getting better with each season and like for all Czech players with EuroBasket Women 2017 in her homeland to think about next summer, it's going to be a particularly important campaign. She has helped to hold things together in the early part of the domestic campaign with the team awaiting some of their WNBA personnel to arrive and while it is hard for her to gain big minutes on a deep roster, it's the likes of Hanusova who plays a big role in supporting the headline cast.

Stat attack: Laia Palau has more assists in the competition than any other player in EuroLeague Women and is bearing down on a magnificent and jaw dropping 1,000 assists.

Social media star: Head over to Instagram and give a follow to Marta Xargay [martaxargay] or watch out for former Final Four MVP Kia Vaughn on Twitter [KIA_VAUGHN]

Outlook: With so much continuity and a legendary play-caller in Natalia Hejkova, it's difficult to see Prague dropping below the high standards they have set themselves since her arrival. They are gunning for a third successive Final Four spot and few would write them off – even if it will be as difficult as ever and especially without that added outside firepower of Katerina Elhotova who is on maternity leave. They have the pieces of the jigsaw back in place and on their day, they can be unstoppable. One of the most talented, experienced and now respected set-ups in the tournament, another season of success and you can begin to call them a true EuroLeague Women powerhouse!

FIBA