FIBA: A way-too-early look at the 2025-26 EuroLeague Women competition

The 2025-26 EuroLeague Women competition doesn’t begin until September 17, when the first round of qualifiers will be played. Yet, it’s already looking like an exciting one.

Here’s an early outlook at the competition, with some loose observations about roster decisions, as well as some (likely wrong) predictions:

Group A

ZVVZ USK Praha, Spar Girona, VBW Gdynia, Winner of Tango Bourges Basket vs. Kibirkstis Vilnius

The reigning champs from Praha return with a probably even stronger roster. Their three pillars—Brionna Jones, Valeriane Ayayi and Maite Cazorla— are coming back and will be aided by two new WNBA stars in Bridget Carleton and Janelle Salaün. Salaün and Ayayi are stretch 4s who can use height to their advantage, and with the addition of Carleton, Praha looks like a high-volume 3-point shooting team.

The rest of the group seems more or less wide open. Anna Pawłowska, the new point guard for Polish champions, VBW Gdynia, told Swish Appeal, “In our group we have many title-winning teams. For sure it’s a demanding group, but I’m really happy that we’ll get to compete with the best”

Group B

Beretta Famila Schio, Sopron Basket, Flammes Carolo Basket, Winner of Galatasaray Cagdas Faktoring vs. ACS Sepsi-SIC

Group B is super interesting. Famila Schio is bringing in three big-name players in Cecilia Zandalsini, Maria Conde and Jessica Shepard to make up for the departures of Dorka Juhász, Janelle Salaün and Kitija Laksa, and one might say that they did way more than that with the acquisitions. That doesn’t compare, though, to the moves made by Galatasaray, as the club is bringing in seven new players, including Juhász, Venezia teammates Kamiah Smalls and Awak Kuier, as well as Marine Johannès. Galatasaray will look to secure their spot in the competition over Sepsi, which recently signed former LSU and Southern Miss guard Domonique Davis. Speaking to Swish Appeal about the opportunity ahead, she said:

Honestly for this year and looking at the group we’re in, I’m excited. Of course, the competition will be tough and it will be challenging but I have always believed that if you play hard and smart there’s always a chance. Looking forward to helping my team fight and compete this year in that group!

Group C

Fenerbahçe Opet, Valencia Basket Club, Olympiacos SFP, Winner of DVTK HUNTHERM vs AZS UMCS Lublin

On paper, this is a two-team group, with Fenerbahçe and Valencia as the favorites to progress. Fenerbahçe is, as always, among the competition’s favorites, bringing back one of the best European players ever in Emma Meesseman, while also adding great talent around her and fellow mainstay Gabby Williams. This year, Fener is going big, bringing in five new natural frontcourt players: Megan Gustafson, Monique Billings, Jonquel Jones, Iliana Rupert and Dominique Malonga. How are they planning on making it work? No idea! But chances are, they will—they’re Fenerbahçe after all.

Valencia is back with a rebuilt roster, with a young promising point guard in Marija Leković, EuroBasket silver medalist María Araújo standing in for Stephanie Mavunga and Tanaya Atkinson, coming off two solid seasons with Zaragoza, playing the guard position.

Group D

CIMSA ÇBK Mersin, Basket Landes, Winner of Casademont Zaragoza vs Žabiny Brno, Winner of Umana Reyer Venezia vs KKZ Crvena Zvezda

Out of all the groups, this is the most equal and competitive. Mersin is the biggest question mark so far, as the team that has brought in big name players year after year has yet to make a big move. One of their best players from last season, Yvonne Anderson, has left for Serbia to play for her national team coach at Crvena Zvezda. Their road to the competition will be tough, as they will have to qualify over Reyer Venezia, which has augmented their returning playmaker-big duo of Matilde Villa and Lorela Cubaj with Joyner Holmes and Kaila Charles. And then there’s Basket Landes, a defensive-minded team that’s always interesting to watch.

The Qualifiers will be played as a home-and-away set on Sept. 17 and 24. The winners of each pairing will participate in the EuroLeague Women regular season, while the losing teams will join the EuroCup Women regular season.