The 2026-27 EuroLeague Women campaign is set to begin, with the regular season and qualifiers draws now confirmed. This season promises an exciting showdown between the top clubs from across Europe and beyond. Here's a breakdown of the groups and qualifiers, along with some expert commentary and analysis.
Group A: The Spanish and French Duopoly
Casademont Zaragoza and Basket Landes, both from Spain and France respectively, lead Group A. These teams are expected to dominate, but the real intrigue lies in the wildcard spot, which will be filled by the winner of the ELW Qualifiers Path 1. This path features some strong contenders, including the Greek powerhouse Athinaikos Qualco, who will be looking to make a statement.
Group B: Turkish and Italian Powerhouses
Galatasaray Cagdas Faktoring and Beretta Famila Schio are the clear frontrunners in Group B. The Turkish and Italian teams are known for their strong performances in previous seasons. However, Kangoeroes Basket Mechelen from Belgium will be eager to make an impact, especially with the wildcard spot up for grabs by the winner of ELW Qualifiers Path 2.
Group C: Turkish-Romanian Dual Threat
Fenerbahce Opet and Valencia Basket Club, both from Turkey and Spain, are the favorites in Group C. However, CS Rapid Bucuresti from Romania will be a force to be reckoned with. The wildcard spot in this group will be determined by the winner of ELW Qualifiers Path 4, which features some strong French and Czech teams.
Group D: Polish and French Contenders
ZVVS USK Praha from the Czech Republic and Tango Bourges Basket from France are the top seeds in Group D. However, AZS UMCS Lublin from Poland will be looking to make a name for itself. The wildcard spot in this group will be filled by the winner of ELW Qualifiers Path 3, which features some strong Greek and Turkish teams.
Qualifiers: The Road to the Regular Season
The Qualifiers will be a single-elimination tournament, with the semi-finals taking place on September 23rd and the finals on September 30th. The winners of each path will secure a spot in the regular season, while the remaining clubs will automatically enter the EuroCup Women.
Personal Takeaway
What makes this season particularly exciting is the depth of talent and competition across all groups and qualifiers. The Qualifiers, in particular, showcase some intriguing matchups and provide an opportunity for underdogs to make a name for themselves. As an expert commentator, I'm eager to see how the season unfolds and which teams rise to the top.
