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WNBA players shine in EuroLeague Final Four: recap and highlights

By Ben Dull

COLUMBIA, SC - FEBRUARY 10: Angel McCoughtry of the 2018 USA Basketball Women's National Team handles the ball during training camp at the University of South Carolina on February 10, 2018 in Columbia, South Carolinaq. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Travis Bell/NBAE via Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, SC - FEBRUARY 10: Angel McCoughtry of the 2018 USA Basketball Women's National Team handles the ball during training camp at the University of South Carolina on February 10, 2018 in Columbia, South Carolinaq. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Travis Bell/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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UMMC Ekaterinburg defeated Dynamo Kursk 84-77 in the first EuroLeague semifinal game of the day. UMMC, a perennial powerhouse overseas, was led by Maya Moore of the Minnesota Lynx, Kristi Toliver and Emma Meesseman of the Washington Mystics and Brittney Griner of the Phoenix Mercury.

Kursk’s roster features big names too, including Angel McCoughtry of the Atlanta Dream, Nneka Ogwumike of the Los Angeles Sparks and Epiphanny Prince of the New York Liberty.

A three-pointer from Moore just before the half made it a one point game heading into the break. UMMC created its separation in the third quarter, outscoring Kursk by 11 points in the period.

Toliver hit a tough three-pointer off the dribble near the middle of the third to put UMMC up by eight, then knocked down a jumper in the paint moments later to keep it there.

Griner pushed the lead to 10 shortly after. UMMC’s lead swelled to 13 when Griner cashed in a few more times in the paint even as Moore rested.

Kursk got back within 10 in the fourth and hung around enough to make a late push. They got a key stop with 1:02 to play, then Ogwumike set McCoughtry up for a three-point play to pull within five. Griner was called for an illegal screen on the ensuing UMMC possession, giving Kursk a chance to make it a one possession game.

McCoughtry ran off a screen to the top of the key but missed. She made her case that she was fouled on the shot to no avail. Moore sunk two free throws to ice it for UMMC.

Moore’s final stat line: 28 points, 10-19 from the field, 5-7 from three, six rebounds, five assists. Meesseman had 19 points and eight boards in 36 minutes; Griner finished with 19 points, seven boards and two blocks. Toliver added a very efficient 15 points on 6-8 shooting to go with three assists.

Ogwumike had13 points and six rebounds in the loss.. Her future teammate with the LA Sparks, Maria Vadeeva, logged 13 minutes off the bench. McCoughtry poured in 26 points to go with six rebounds and four assists:

A few final notes:

  • Epiphanny Prince did not suit up for Kursk in the game.
  • Raisa Musina, selected 21st overall in the second round of the 2018 WNBA Draft by the Phoenix Mercury, plays for UMMC. She did not see any floor time on Friday.

Sopron Basket defeated Yakin Dogu 68-65 in the second semifinal. Sopron’s team has been led on both ends this season by Yvonne Turner of the Phoenix Mercury. Seattle Storm training camp signee Aleksandra Crvendakic is a starter for Sopron on the wing.

Kayla McBride of the Las Vegas Aces, Courtney Vandersloot of the Chicago Sky and Jantel Lavender of the Los Angeles Sparks are the top players for Yakin Dogu. Vandersloot appeared to dislocate a finger in the first quarter, though she quickly returned to the game and played 35 minutes (15 points, 5-15 FG, seven rebounds, five assists). McBride finished with just 12 points on 15 shots, but she delivered late to get her team all the way back into the game.

Lavender finished with 10 points (4-6 FG) and 10 rebounds. Quanitra Hollingsworth played well in 15 minutes off the bench (4-4 FG, 3-4 FT) and was a big part of the team’s fourth quarter surge.

Sopron led by seven at the end of the first quarter. Credit their defense for locking in on Vandersloot at the point of attack, though her finger injury may have had more to do with her shooting struggles. Vandersloot knocked down a three-pointer in transition near the end of the third quarter, then she assisted Olcay Caskir’s triple just before the horn to cut Sopron’s lead down to 10.

Though Sopron led by as many as 19 in this game, Yakin Dogu came roaring back with a 14-0 run to take a one point lead after a pair of free throws from Hollingsworth. Turner forced her way to the line to finally stop the bleeding after Sopron had gone scoreless for nearly six minutes of game time.

With Sopron back ahead by one, the teams each came away empty-handed on their next possession. The back-and-forth continued. McBride scored in the pick and roll with her left hand as she crashed to the floor.

Turner drove to the basket and scored to provide an answer. She was then whistled for a foul in the backcourt; Vandersloot sunk one of two at the line to tie it up at 65. Turner drove but missed on the next Sopron possession. McBride’s jumper came up short with 23 seconds to go on Yakin Dogu’s next trip, setting the stage for Sopron to make some magic on their home floor:

Sopron went to its best option offensively — Turner with the ball up top with the floor spread. Jelena Milovanovic rewarded Turner for trusting her in that moment. With that shot she also became the fifth Sopron player to make a three-pointer in the game. Sopron shot 8-23 from deep Friday; Yakin Dogu made five threes on just 12 attempts.

Turner scored a game-high 19 to go with four assists. Crvendakic and Zsofia Fegyverneky each knocked down two three-pointers. Angela Salvadores had 18 points and four rebounds in just 18 minutes off the bench.

You can catch the third place game between Yakin Dogu and Dynamo Kursk Sunday at 11 AM ET. The championship game will follow between Sopron Basket and UMMC Ekaterinburg at 2 PM ET. Both games can be streamed live or at a later time in full on FIBA’s YouTube channel.

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