EuroLeague Women group play resumes after a brief winter holiday break, and it’s safe to say things will look a little different in Week 11 due to a few transactions that could potentially change the competitive landscape of the competition.
The biggest of these moves was the shocking departure of Alina Iagupova from Çukurova Basketbol Mersin, and her subsequent signing with Valencia Basket Club. The two-time EuroLeague Women MVP was averaging 16 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game for Mersin and will bring a dynamic playmaking ability to a veteran Valencia team that, at 4-6, is trying desperately to make a playoff push in Group A. Iagupova will be replacing Rebecca Allen, who left Valencia in mid-December.
Elsewhere, Bethy Mununga has joined Villeneuve d’Ascq LM, a club in need of frontcourt depth after Maïa Hirsch suffered a season-ending ankle injury. Mununga played briefly for ACS Sepsi-SIC at the beginning of the EuroLeague Women season, averaging 7.3 points and 11.8 rebounds in four games (two of which were EuroLeague Women play-in qualifiers).
Finally, Perfumerias Avenida will enter the calendar year with a new guard, signing Arica Carter to replace Bria Hartley, whose contract through December was not renewed. Carter played collegiately at…
