EuroLeague Women: High-stakes second round of group play begins

The second round of EuroLeague Women group play begins this Tuesday, December 9, which means the stakes for Europe’s top international basketball competition are about to be raised.

The field has been narrowed, with the 12 best teams from the first round advancing, and they’ve been re-grouped to ensure that the second round will be full of fresh matchups.

As the competition heats up, the level of talent is increasing, too.

Gabby Williams, who was named EuroLeague Women Defensive Player of the Year last season, returns to Fenerbahçe Opet, who went undefeated in the first round of group play and is among the few clubs expected to compete for a championship. Elsewhere, Spanish club Valencia Basket welcomes Nia Coffey, who last played in EuroLeague Women in 2020 for Gelecek Koleji Çukurova.

You can catch Williams’ and Coffey’s season debuts, as well as every other EuroLeague Women game this week, live and for free on FIBA’s EuroLeague Women YouTube channel. Let’s run through this week’s matchups, including players to watch for and keys to each game.

Casademont Zaragoza (3-3) vs. Valencia Basket Club (4-2)

Umana Reyer Venezia (4-2) vs. Fenerbahçe Opet (6-0)

Basket Landes (4-2) vs. DVTK HUNTHERM (1-5)

Galatasaray Çağdaş Faktoring (6-0) vs. ZVVZ USK Praha (3-3)

Beretta Famila Schio (4-2) vs. Spar Girona (5-1)

Flammes Carolo Basket (2-4) vs. Tango Bourges Basket (4-2)