EuroLeague Women

FIBA EuroLeague Women
Organising bodyFIBA Europe
First season1958
RegionEurope
Number of teams16 (group stage)
Level on pyramidTop women's league in Europe
Related competitionsEuroCup Women
Current championsTurkey Fenerbahçe
(1st title)
Most championshipsSoviet Union Daugava Riga
(18 titles)
WebsiteFIBA.Basketball/EuroLeagueWomen
2023–24 EuroLeague Women

The EuroLeague Women (officially known as the FIBA EuroLeague Women) is the pre-eminent basketball league in Europe for women's basketball clubs.

Unlike the EuroLeague Men, the competition is entirely organized by FIBA Europe.

History

EuroLeague Women is the main women's club basketball competition in Europe.

First established by FIBA in September 1958, the inaugural European women's club competition consisted of 10 teams and came about following the success of an equivalent tournament for men's clubs earlier in the same year. The men's tournament consisted of 46 games, with over 100,000 spectators turning out to watch.

At the initial tournament Slavia Sofia of Bulgaria were crowned champions, beating Soviet Dynamo Moscow 64–40 at home and then 44–34 on the Muscovites court. The two-game home-and-away format for the final remained until 1976, before changing to a single-game format the following year.

During its formative years, the tournament was dominated by Daugava Riga from Latvia (then Soviet Union) who appeared in 16 finals between 1960 and 1977, winning all 16 of them. The Latvian club maintains two records that are difficult to see being bettered, with 18 overall titles, as well as the record for winning 12 consecutive championships.

In the nineties, the competition underwent two key changes. The first was the introduction of the Final Four in 1992; and the second was the rebranding of the competition in 1996, when it went from being known as European Cup for Women's Champion Clubs to what it is known as today: EuroLeague Women.

The Final Four format was given its farewell in Ekaterinburg in 2011, when Halcón Avenida defeated Spartak Moscow Region 68–59; before the 2011/2012 season heralded in a new direction for EuroLeague Women with the Final Four replaced by a Final Eight tournament.

Istanbul were granted the honour of hosting the first Final Eight tournament where Spanish club Ros Casares Valencia prevailed victorious, defeating Rivas Ecópolis 65–52 in the final. In its second year, the EuroLeague Women Final Eight moved to Ekaterinburg, where tournament hosts UMMC Ekaterinburg prevailed 82–56 over Fenerbahçe in the final.

In 2014, Ekaterinburg was once again the host of what would ultimately be the final edition of the Final Eight, with the tournament destined to return to a Final Four format for this season. After shocking the home-town favourites UMMC Ekaterinburg in the semi-finals, Galatasaray then went on to become the first Turkish club to lift the title, defeating cross-city rival Fenerbahçe 69–58 in the gold medal game.

In February 2022, the Russian teams and officials were expelled from the tournament by FIBA for the playoffs due to the country's invasion of Ukraine.[1] EuroLeague Women suspended Russian clubs UMMC Ekaterinburg, Dynamo Kursk, and MBA Moscow.[2]

Names of the competition

  • FIBA Women's European Champions Cup: (1958–1996)
  • EuroLeague Women: (1996–present)

Format

2004–2011

The 24 clubs were divided into four groups of six teams, each with home and away games.

The four best-placed clubs in each group qualified for the eighth-final play-offs.

The Eighth-finals were established according to the standings (games won, games lost, goal-average) of each team in the preliminary round. This round was played in a home and away game.

The winners of the eighth-final round qualified for the quarter-final round.

The winners of the quarter-final round qualified for the Final Four, organized by one of the qualified clubs. The semi-finals were played on a Friday and the finals on a Sunday.

2011–2014

The teams were split in three groups, which played each other home and away.

The best team qualified directly to the Final Eight, whereas the next best 14 teams advanced to a play-off round. The Final Eight was played over two groups in a single venue, with the best teams advancing to the Final Four.

2014–present

The teams are divided into two groups, each with home and away games. The top four teams from each group advance to the quarter-finals, played over three games, and the winners advance to the Final Four.

For the 2020–21 season, teams were divided into four groups of four teams. The two-group format returned for the 2021–22 season.

Results

Year Final Third and fourth place
Champion Score Runners-up
Have not a third place match / Semifinal losers)
1958–59
Details
Bulgaria
Slavia Sofia
97–84
63–40 / 34–44
Soviet Union
Dynamo Moscow
Czechoslovakia
Spartak Sokolovo
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Crvena zvezda
1959–60
Details
Soviet Union
Daugava Rīga
111–71
62–28 / 49–43
Bulgaria
Slavia Sofia
Czechoslovakia
Slovan Orbis Prague
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Crvena zvezda
1960–61
Details
Soviet Union
Daugava Rīga
148–114
76–77 / 72–37
Czechoslovakia
Slovan Orbis Prague
Soviet Union
USK Tartu
Bulgaria
Academic
1961–62
Details
Soviet Union
Daugava Rīga
103–82
55–38 / 48–44
Soviet Union
Spartak Leningrad
Czechoslovakia
Slovan Orbis Prague
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Radnički Belgrade
1962–63
Details
Bulgaria
Slavia Sofia
112–106
52–57 / 60–49
Czechoslovakia
Slovan Orbis Prague
Soviet Union
Daugava Rīga
Hungary
MTK
1963–64
Details
Soviet Union
Daugava Rīga
103–101
63–58 / 40–43
Czechoslovakia
Spartak Sokolovo
Bulgaria
Slavia Sofia
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Crvena zvezda
1964–65
Details
Soviet Union
Daugava Rīga
101–93
49–31 / 52–62
Bulgaria
Slavia Sofia
Poland
Wisła Kraków
Czechoslovakia
Slovan Orbis Prague
1965–66
Details
Soviet Union
Daugava Rīga
135–95
62–39 / 73–56
Czechoslovakia
Slovan Orbis Prague
Poland
Wisła Kraków
Bulgaria
Slavia Sofia
1966–67
Details
Soviet Union
Daugava Rīga
111–93
56–41 / 55–52
Czechoslovakia
Sparta Prague
Bulgaria
Academic
Poland
Wisła Kraków
1967–68
Details
Soviet Union
Daugava Rīga
134–92
76–45 / 58–47
Czechoslovakia
Sparta Prague
Poland
Łódź
Italy
Recoaro Vicenza
1968–69
Details
Soviet Union
Daugava Rīga
144–105
62–48 / 82–57
East Germany
Chemie Halle
Romania
Politehnica București
Bulgaria
Academic
1969–70
Details
Soviet Union
Daugava Rīga
120–87
61–45 / 59–42
Poland
Wisła Kraków
Bulgaria
Academic
Czechoslovakia
Sparta Prague
1970–71
Details
Soviet Union
Daugava Rīga
134–115
72–59 / 62–56
France
Clermont
Bulgaria
Academic
Poland
Wisła Kraków
1971–72
Details
Soviet Union
Daugava Rīga
166–118
80–59 / 86–59
Czechoslovakia
Sparta Prague
Italy
Geas
France
Clermont
1972–73
Details
Soviet Union
Daugava Rīga
147–104
64–44 / 83–60
France
Clermont
Czechoslovakia
Sparta Prague
Italy
Geas
1973–74
Details
Soviet Union
Daugava Rīga
164–120
96–67 / 69–53
France
Clermont
Poland
Łódź
Romania
Politehnica București
1974–75
Details
Soviet Union
Daugava Rīga
159–115
87–59 / 72–56
Czechoslovakia
Sparta Prague
Italy
Geas
France
Clermont
1975–76
Details
Czechoslovakia
Sparta Prague
132–115
55–58 / 77–57
France
Clermont
Italy
Geas
Bulgaria
Academic
1976–77
Details
Soviet Union
Daugava Rīga
76–53 France
Clermont
Italy
Geas
Czechoslovakia
Sparta Prague
1977–78
Details
Italy
Sesto Geas
74–66 Czechoslovakia
Sparta Prague
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Crvena zvezda
Bulgaria
Minyor Pernik
1978–79
Details
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Crvena zvezda
97–62 Hungary
BSE
Bulgaria
Minyor Pernik
Italy
Sesto Geas
1979–80
Details
Italy
FIAT
75–66 Bulgaria
Minyor Pernik
Netherlands
BOB Oud-Beijerland
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Crvena zvezda
1980–81
Details
Soviet Union
Daugava Rīga
83–65 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Crvena zvezda
Bulgaria
Levski-Spartak
Italy
Accorsi FIAT
1981–82
Details
Soviet Union
Daugava Rīga
78–56 Bulgaria
Minyor Pernik
Italy
Pagnossin Treviso
Hungary
BSE
1982–83
Details
Italy
Zolu Vicenza
76–67 West Germany
Agon 08 Düsseldorf
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Monting
Soviet Union
Daugava Rīga
1983–84
Details
Bulgaria
Levski Sofia
82–77 Italy
Zolu Vicenza
Czechoslovakia
VŠ Praha
Hungary
Tungsram
1984–85
Details
Italy
Fiorella Vicenza
63–55 Soviet Union
Daugava Rīga
West Germany
Agon 08 Düsseldorf
Bulgaria
Levski-Spartak
1985–86
Details
Italy
Primigi Vicenza
71–57 West Germany
Agon 08 Düsseldorf
Soviet Union
CSKA Moscow
Bulgaria
Levski-Spartak
1986–87
Details
Italy
Primigi Vicenza
86–73 Soviet Union
Dynamo Novosibirsk
West Germany
Agon 08 Düsseldorf
Bulgaria
Levski-Spartak
Round format
1987–88
Details
Italy
Primigi Vicenza
70–64 Soviet Union
Dynamo Novosibirsk
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Jedinstvo Tuzla
West Germany
Agon 08 Düsseldorf
1988–89
Details
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Jedinstvo Tuzla
74–70 Italy
Primigi Vicenza
Soviet Union
Dynamo Novosibirsk
France
Astarac Mirande
1989–90
Details
Italy
Enimont Libertas Trogylos
86–71 Soviet Union
CSKA Moscow
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Crvena zvezda
France
Astarac Mirande
1990–91
Details
Italy
Conad Cesena
84–66 Sweden
Arvika
Greece
Sporting
Soviet Union
Elektrosila
Have a third place match
1991–92
Details
Spain
Dorna Godella
66–56 Commonwealth of Independent States
Dynamo Kyiv
Italy
Pool Comense
Greece
Sporting
1992–93
Details
Spain
Dorna Godella
66–58 Italy
Pool Comense
France
Challes-les-Eaux
Slovakia
Ružomberok
1993–94
Details
Italy
Pool Comense
79–68 Spain
Dorna Godella
Poland
Olimpia Poznań
Germany
GoldZack Wuppertal
1994–95
Details
Italy
Pool Comense
64–57 Spain
Dorna Godella
Russia
CSKA Moscow
France
Valenciennes Olympic
1995–96
Details
Germany
Wuppertal
76–62 Italy
Pool Comense
Slovakia
Ružomberok
France
Bourges
1996–97
Details
France
Bourges
71–52 Germany
Wuppertal
Slovakia
Ružomberok
Italy
Pool Comense
1997–98
Details
France
Bourges
76–64 Spain
Pool Getafe
Italy
Pool Comense
France
Valenciennes Olympic
1998–99
Details
Slovakia
Ružomberok
63–48 Italy
Pool Comense
Turkey
Galatasaray
Germany
Wuppertal
1999–00
Details
Slovakia
Ružomberok
67–64 France
Bourges
Czech Republic
Gambrinus BVV Brno
Russia
Dynamo Moscow
2000–01
Details
France
Bourges
73–71 France
Valenciennes Olympic
Hungary
Pécs
Czech Republic
Gambrinus Brno
2001–02
Details
France
Valenciennes Olympic
78–72 Poland
Lotos VBW Clima Gdynia
Italy
Lavezzini Parma
Slovakia
Ružomberok
2002–03
Details
Russia
UMMC Ekaterinburg
82–80 France
Valenciennes Olympic
Czech Republic
Gambrinus Brno
France
Bourges
2003–04
Details
France
Valenciennes Olympic
93–69 Poland
Lotos VBW Clima Gdynia
Hungary
Pécs
Czech Republic
Gambrinus Brno
2004–05
Details
Russia
VBM-SGAU Samara
69–66 Czech Republic
Gambrinus Brno
Lithuania
Lietuvos Telekomas
Hungary
Pécs
2005–06
Details
Czech Republic
Gambrinus Brno
68–54 Russia
VBM-SGAU Samara
France
Valenciennes Olympic
Lithuania
Lietuvos Telekomas
2006–07
Details
Russia
Spartak Moscow Region
76–62 Spain
Ros Casares Valencia
Russia
CSKA Samara
France
Bourges
2007–08
Details
Russia
Spartak Moscow Region
75–60 Czech Republic
Gambrinus Brno
Russia
UMMC Ekaterinburg
France
Bourges
2008–09
Details
Russia
Spartak Moscow Region
85–70 Spain
Avenida
Russia
UMMC Ekaterinburg
Hungary
Euroleasing Sopron
2009–10
Details
Russia
Spartak Moscow Region
87–80 Spain
Ros Casares Valencia
Russia
UMMC Ekaterinburg
Poland
Can Pack Wisła Kraków
2010–11
Details
Spain
Halcón Avenida
68–59 Russia
Spartak Moscow Region
Russia
UMMC Ekaterinburg
Spain
Ros Casares Valencia
2011–12
Details
Spain
Ros Casares Valencia
65–52 Spain
Rivas Ecópolis
Russia
UMMC Ekaterinburg
Turkey
Fenerbahçe
2012–13
Details
Russia
UMMC Ekaterinburg
82–56 Turkey
Fenerbahçe
France
Bourges
Slovakia
Good Angels Košice
2013–14
Details
Turkey
Galatasaray
69–58 Turkey
Fenerbahçe
Russia
UMMC Ekaterinburg
France
Bourges
2014–15
Details
Czech Republic
USK Praha
72–68 Russia
UMMC Ekaterinburg
Russia
Dynamo Kursk
Turkey
Fenerbahçe
2015–16
Details
Russia
UMMC Ekaterinburg
72–69 Russia
Nadezhda Orenburg
Turkey
Fenerbahçe
Czech Republic
USK Praha
2016–17
Details
Russia
Dynamo Kursk
77–63 Turkey
Fenerbahçe
Russia
UMMC Ekaterinburg
Czech Republic
USK Praha
2017–18
Details
Russia
UMMC Ekaterinburg
72–53 Hungary
Sopron Basket
Russia
Dynamo Kursk
Turkey
Yakın Doğu Üniversitesi
2018–19
Details
Russia
UMMC Ekaterinburg
91–67 Russia
Dynamo Kursk
Czech Republic
ZVVZ USK Praha
Hungary
Sopron Basket
2019–20
Details
Curtailed and voided due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020–21
Details
Russia
UMMC Ekaterinburg
78–68 Spain
Perfumerías Avenida
Turkey
Fenerbahçe
Hungary
Sopron Basket
2021–22
Details
Hungary
Sopron Basket
60–55 Turkey
Fenerbahçe
Spain
Perfumerías Avenida
Czech Republic
ZVVZ USK Praha
2022–23
Details
Turkey
Fenerbahçe
99–60 Turkey
ÇBK Mersin Yenişehir Bld.
Italy
Beretta Famila Schio
Czech Republic
ZVVZ USK Praha

Medals (1958–2023)

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1 Soviet Union186529
2 Russia1251128
3 Italy1151329
4 France58518
5 Spain48113
6 Bulgaria341421
7 Turkey25310
8 Czech Republic2237
9 Yugoslavia21912
10 Slovakia2024
11 Czechoslovakia19818
12 Germany1326
13 Hungary1258
14 Poland03710
15 CIS0101
 East Germany0101
 Sweden0101
18 Romania0022
19 Greece0011
 Lithuania0011
 Netherlands0011
Totals (21 entries)646493221
  • Semifinal losers from 1958–1987 considered as bronze.

Statistics

Titles by country

Rank Country Winners Runners-up
1  Soviet Union 18 6
2  Russia 12 5
3  Italy 11 5
4  France 5 8
5  Spain 4 8
6  Bulgaria 3 4
7  Turkey 2 5
8  Czech Republic 2 2
9  Yugoslavia 2 1
10  Slovakia 2 0
11  Czechoslovakia 1 9
12  Germany 1 3
13  Hungary 1 2

Titles by club

Rank Club Winners Runners-up
1 Soviet Union Daugava Rīga 18 1
2 Russia UMMC Ekaterinburg 6 1
3 Italy Vicenza 5 2
4 Russia Spartak Moscow Region 4 1
5 France CJM Bourges Basket 3 1
6 Spain CB Godella-Pool Getafe 2 3
6 Italy Pool Comense 1872 2 3
8 France Valenciennes Olympic 2 2
8 Bulgaria Slavia Sofia 2 2
10 Slovakia Ružomberok 2 0
11 Czech Republic Sparta Prague 1 6
12 Turkey Fenerbahçe 1 4
13 Czech Republic Brno 1 2
13 Spain Avenida 1 2
13 Spain Ros Casares Valencia 1 2
16 Germany Wuppertal Wings 1 1
16 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Crvena zvezda 1 1
16 Russia VBM-SGAU Samara 1 1
16 Russia Dynamo Kursk 1 1
16 Hungary Sopron Basket 1 1
21 Bulgaria Levski Sofia 1 0
21 Italy FIAT 1 0
21 Italy Unicar Cesena 1 0
21 Italy GS Trogylos Basket Priolo 1 0
21 Italy Sesto San Giovanni 1 0
21 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Jedinstvo Tuzla 1 0
21 Turkey Galatasaray 1 0
21 Czech Republic USK Praha 1 0

Stats leaders

Season Top scorer PPG Top rebounder RPG Top assistant APG
1991–92 Bosnia and Herzegovina Razija Mujanović 27.3 Bosnia and Herzegovina Razija Mujanović 9.1 France Corinne Benintendi 2.7
1992–93 Russia Yelena Khudashova 24.8 United States Katrina Johnson 11.6 France Corinne Benintendi 5.1
1993–94 Bosnia and Herzegovina Razija Mujanović 20.4 United States Katrina Johnson 12.7 France Corinne Benintendi 5.2
1994–95 United States Clarissa Davis 30.5 Russia Yelena Baranova 9.9 United States Teresa Weatherspoon 6.0
1995–96 United States Clarissa Davis 25.9 United States Venus Lacy 12.7 Russia Svetlana Antipova 6.6
1996–97 United States Yolanda Griffith 24.7 United States Yolanda Griffith 17.1 Australia Michele Timms 5.7
1997–98 United States Jennifer Gillom 21.8 Russia Maria Stepanova 12.4 Russia Lyudmila Konovalova 5.9
1998–99 Australia Sandy Brondello 19.5 Germany Marlies Askamp 12.3 Spain Ana Belén Álvaro 4.8
1999–00 Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Mila Nikolić 19.1 Poland Margo Dydek 10.6 Israel Aluma Goren 4.4
2000–01 Belgium Ann Wauters 20.9 Poland Margo Dydek 10.7 Slovakia Iveta Bieliková 5.7
2001–02 Bulgaria Albena Branzova 20.8 United States Yolanda Griffith 11.5 Portugal Ticha Penicheiro 5.3
2002–03 Serbia and Montenegro Ana Joković 21.1 Poland Margo Dydek 10.4 France Audrey Sauret-Gillespie 4.8
2003–04 Serbia and Montenegro Gordana Grubin 20.5 Russia Maria Stepanova 12.2 Australia Kristi Willoughby 5.9
2004–05 United States Katie Douglas 20.4 United States Michelle Snow 13.6 Hungary Dalma Iványi 6.9
2005–06 United States Katie Douglas 20.8 United States Rebekkah Brunson 11.3 France Caroline Aubert 6.1
2006–07 United States Tina Thompson 21.1 United States DeLisha Milton-Jones 10.9 France Caroline Aubert 6.0
2007–08 Australia Lauren Jackson 23.6 United States Nicole Ohlde 9.5 Hungary Dalma Iványi 5.7
2008–09 United States Diana Taurasi 20.5 United States Laura Harper 12.0 Hungary Dalma Iványi 7.5
2009–10 United States Diana Taurasi 24.9 United States Candice Dupree 11.0 Croatia Anđa Jelavić 6.7
2010–11 Australia Penny Taylor 19.2 United States Cheryl Ford 14.2 Hungary Dalma Iványi 5.4
2011–12 United States Diana Taurasi 20.9 United States Cheryl Ford 11.9 United States Sharnee Zoll-Norman 6.6
2012–13 United States Tina Charles 24.0 United States Tina Charles 12.5 Spain Laia Palau 6.4
2013–14 United States Jantel Lavender 20.3 Croatia Luca Ivanković 11.1 Spain Laia Palau 6.8
2014–15 United States Nneka Ogwumike 19.5 United States Candace Parker 11.0 Spain Laia Palau 7.1
2015–16 United States Diana Taurasi 20.9 United States Crystal Langhorne 10.8 Spain Laia Palau 7.1
2016–17 United States Yvonne Turner 18.8 United States Nneka Ogwumike 10.2 Spain Laia Palau 7.8
2017–18 United States Kayla McBride 18.7 United States Jantel Lavender 8.6 Hungary Courtney Vandersloot 9.0
2018–19 United States Breanna Stewart 21.0 United States Brionna Jones 10.9 France Amel Bouderra 6.9
2019–20 Ukraine Alina Iagupova 21.3 United States Alyssa Thomas 11.4 Hungary Courtney Vandersloot 7.1
2020–21 Ukraine Alina Iagupova 20.0 Brazil Clarissa Dos Santos 12.3 Hungary Courtney Vandersloot 7.6
2021–22 United States Kahleah Copper 21.4 United States Natasha Howard 11.0 Turkey Pelin Bilgiç 6.4
2022–23 United States Megan Gustafson 22.6 United States Stephanie Mavunga 12.5 United States Erica Wheeler 7.4

See also

Men's competitions

Women's competitions

References

  1. ^ "FIBA statement on Russian teams and officials". FIBA.basketball. 1 March 2022.
  2. ^ "A glance at the reaction of sports to Russian invasion". Associated Press. 8 March 2022.

External links

  • (in English) Official website
  • (in English) Official Facebook page
  • (in English) EuroLeague history
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