As Aristotle said, “Nature abhors a vacuum,” and the world of basketball is similar.
Just ahead of Game 1 of the 2024 WNBA Finals, the best and most exciting women’s basketball competition in Europe—EuroLeague Women—concluded it’s first week of games. Here are three takeaways from those contests:
Don’t overlook Žabiny Brno
The American frontcourt duo of Stephanie Kostowicz and Elissa Cunane is fitting in nicely on the Czech vice-champions, Žabiny Brno. The Lady Frogs have been second-best in their country for three years in a row now, but during Week 1 they played like world-beaters, sharing the ball and making shot after shot. Žabiny beat Olympiacos 92-61. Cunane had 17 points and nine rebounds, while Kostowicz had 10 points, 10 rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Talking to Swish Appeal after the game, Kostowicz suggested that the underdog status may have contributed to the overall performance:
Coach told us in the locker room before the game that we were ranked 16th out of 16 teams in the EuroLeague. Maybe that lit a fire under us or maybe it took away the pressure. But 30 assists and 16-for-27 from 3 made for a very fun game!
