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Last season, Villeneuve d’Ascq LM made the EuroLeague Women final. This year, with a revamped roster, they are the favorites to take the EuroCup Women trophy against Baxi Ferrol, the underdogs who just beat the 2023 winners, LDLC ASVEL Feminin.
Ferrol triumphed in their first semifinal game against ASVEL on Mar. 6, winning 93-62. The big victory secured them a strong point differential advantage, allowing them to advance even as they dropped the second semifinal game on Mar. 13, 74-63. Villeneuve-d’Ascq won both of their semifinal contests, defeating Sopron Basket on Mar. 6 and Mar. 13.
For WNBA fans, the two-game Finals, which will be played on Mar. 26 and Apr. 2, should hold plenty of intrigue.
New Connecticut Sun head coach Rachid Meziane is finishing out his tenure as head coach of favored Villeneuve d’Ascq. The main reason to tune into the Finals is to see his game plan. Regarded as one of the best basketball tacticians in European women’s basketball, Meziane will undoubtedly prepare something special for Ferrol, a team which lacks star power, but is instead well-balanced, with four players averaging over 10 points per game. In the last game against Sopron, Villeneuve d’Ascq’s tight defense limited the Hungarians to 27 percent accuracy from the floor. Sopron’s most efficient player, center Jacinta Monroe, who has selected No. 6 overall in the 2010 WNBA Draft, had just a total 16 points and eight rebounds in the two games.
Villeneuve d’Ascq’s focal point is new Golden State Valkyrie Carla Leite, who’s one of the top candidates for EuroCup MVP with averages of 16.9 points and 5.0 dimes per game. Aided by two American veterans, shooting guard Shavonte Zellous and power forward Haley Peters, Leite has been running the floor for Villeneuve d’Ascq like an experienced, older player. At mid-season, the team also added Khari Clark, who spoke to Swish Appeal back when she was with her former team. Clark is a talented wing who also is wise beyond her years, and is willing to do the little things necessary for her team to win.
Ferrol’s standout players are swingwomen Angela Mataix and Julie Pospisilova. Mataix, a 5-foot-11 Spaniard, leads the team in points and assists, while Pospisilova, a former Wisconsin Badger, is a Swiss-Army-Knife player. Ferrol’s frontcourt consists of Claire Melia, a native of Ireland who played a Saint Joesph’s, and Spanish veteran Gala Mestres. The point guard position is handled by former Michigan State Spartan Moira Joiner, playing her first year of pro ball.
Ferrol are on a dream run and it remains to be seen if Villeneuve d’Ascq can put an end to it. Both final games can be streamed on FIBA’s YouTube channel.
EuroCup Women Finals schedule
Mar. 26: Villeneuve d’Ascq LM at Baxi Ferrol, 3 p.m. ET
Apr. 2: Baxi Ferrol at Villeneuve d’Ascq LM, 2:30 p.m. ET
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