FIBA: Arella Guirantes standing out early in EuroLeague Women

Two weeks into the group play phase of the 2022-23 EuroLeague Women season, we’ve already had plenty of dramatic moments. Arella Guirantes’ buzzer-beating, left-handed scoop shot that lifted DVTK-Hun-Therm (1-1) past Kangoeroes Mechelen (0-2) was among the top plays of Week 2, and, depending on how the rest of group play shakes out, it could be one of the season’s defining moments.

Then you have the double-overtime slugfest between Fenerbahçe Alagöz Holding (0-2) and Atomerőmű KSC Szekszárd (1-1) that featured a combined 204 points, with Szekszárd’s Cyesha Goree (30 points) and Victoria Vivians (25 points) going toe-to-toe with Fenerbahçe’s Natasha Howard and Kayla McBride (28 points apiece) in what turned out to be a massive upset. Szekszárd joined DVTK as a club earning its first-ever victory in EuroLeague Women play.

Of course, for each exhilarating high, there’s also a disappointing low. Both Fenerbahçe and CBK Mersin Yenişehir Bld (0-2) were expected to compete for this season’s EuroLeague Women championship, but still find themselves winless entering Week 3 of the competition. While the overall talent level on the two clubs will keep them in contention, watching them try to bounce back from adversity will, at the very least, add to the competition’s storylines later in group play.

You can catch Guirantes, Vivians, Howard, McBride, and dozens of other stars in action live and for free on FIBA’s EuroLeague Women YouTube channel. Let’s preview the competition’s schedule for Week 3.

Wednesday, November 9

Fenerbahçe Alagöz Holding (0-2) vs. Olympiacós SFP (0-2)

When: 11 a.m. ET

Where: Metro Energy Sports Hall, Istanbul

How to watch: FIBA YouTube live stream

Notable players: Natasha Howard, Kayla McBride, Alina Iagupova, Kiah Stokes (Fenerbahçe Alagöz Holding); Megan Gustafson, Kylee Shook (Olympiacós SFP)

Matchup details: Fenerbahçe drops to a disappointing 0-2 after falling to Szekszárd in Week 2, a game in which Iagupova, its best perimeter shot creator, did not suit up. Until the Turkish club can play its entire roster (Breanna Stewart, Emma Meesseman and Satou Sabally have yet to join the…