Welcome! 🎉 In an effort to stop spamming my friends with constant women’s basketball updates, I’ve created this newsletter. I know—so generous of me. No need to thank me! I’m here to keep you informed on most things WBB.
Table of Contents
WNBA News
II'm not an expert on overseas leagues, but here's a general overview of where many WNBA players compete during the offseason. I'll focus on the countries where I know specific players rather than covering every league.
I’m leaving out the Spanish and French leagues to keep this concise, but it’s worth noting that both are well-established and attract a ton of top-tier talent each year.
Overview of International Leagues.
Established in 1958, EuroLeague Women features top European basketball clubs that qualify for the league. Its ranking system evaluates teams and countries based on their performance over the past three seasons.
Club Ranking: Teams in EuroLeague Women and EuroCup Women earn points based on performance. The total from the last three seasons determines club rankings, which influence tournament seeding to ensure stronger teams don’t meet too early.
Country Ranking: A country’s ranking is based on the combined performance of its clubs over three seasons. Higher rankings grant more teams entry into the Regular Season and Qualifiers.
In short, teams earn points for themselves and their country, shaping future participation and placements!
If I’m not mistaken, these teams are competing in both the EuroLeague competitions and their respective domestic leagues. Right now, the EuroLeague quarterfinals are underway, with teams battling for a spot in the finals and a chance to take down the reigning champions, Turkey’s Fenerbahçe Alagöz Holding.
Check out this video of last year’s champions, which featured WNBA stars Kayla McBride, Natasha Howard, Kiah Stokes, Sevgi Uzun, and Emma Meesseman in action!
You can watch the rest of the EuroLeague Women season on the Euroleague Women YouTube page. Games typically air in the afternoon Eastern Time.
So, from what I gathered, this is kind of like the WNIT Tournament for college teams that don’t qualify for NCAA March Madness—lmfao. The EuroCup is a second-tier basketball competition for teams that didn’t make the cut for EuroLeague Women. 32 teams compete to win this chip. Cool way to see even more players in action
Last year, the London Lions won, a first for a British team. (and I was in London but skipped the chance to see them—😕). The team featured Temi Fagbenle (Golden State), Meghan Gustafson (Aces), and Karlie Samuelson (Mystics).
You can follow the EuroCupe on the FIBA Basketball Youtube channel.
The WNBL, founded in 1981, is Australia’s women’s basketball league, composed of eight teams. Their preseason begins in mid-September, and the regular season runs through February 18. They are currently in the playoffs, which take place from February 22 through March 12. The playoffs consist of two rounds (semi-finals and finals), both of which are best-of-three series. The WNBL is a great place for rookies and young players to develop their skills, and we’re seeing players like Haley Jones (Atlanta Dream) and Laeticia Amihere( Golden State Valkyries) really flourish. Of course, there are also homegrown stars like Sami Whitcomb (Phoenix Mercury) and Jade Melbourne (Washington Mystics) who are excelling in their home league.
Teams:
Adelaide Lightning - Adelaide, South Australia
Bendigo Spirit- Bendigo, Victora
Canberra Capitals- Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Geelong United - Geelong, Victoria
Perth Lynx- Perth, Western Australia
Southside Flyers - Dandenong, Victora
Sydney Flames - Sydney, New South Wales
Townsville Fire- Townsville, Queensland
You can watch the Finals live & for free on YouTube on FIBA Basketball channel
Game 1: Wednesday, Mar. 5 at 3 a.m. ET
Game 2: Sunday, March 9 at 11 p.m. ET
Game 3 (if necessary): Wednesday, Mar. 12 at 3 a.m. ET
Established in 2002 as a counterpart to the CBA, the WCBA is China’s premier women’s basketball league. Here’s the thing about playing in China—they pay a lot. Players like Liz Cambage, Jonquel Jones, and Chennedy Carter have shown how they can build a dedicated fan base in China while earning up to a million or more.
Much like in Russia or Turkey, teams or clubs are owned by wealthy patrons or corporate sponsors who invest heavily to bring in top talent to secure wins. With Russia snatching up Brittney Griner which led to a decline in players heading there, more and more are choosing China as their destination.
It’s currently playoff time, and last season, Jonquel Jones’ team lost to the twin towers of Liz Cambage and Han Xu (New York Liberty’s 6'11" hooper). This year, she joined them! It’ll be interesting to see what happens. These games are almost impossible to watch because of the time difference, but Instagram and Twitter pages that provide updates on WNBA players in China help keep you in the loop.
Estbalished in 1980 as a replacement to the original Turkish Women’s Basketball league (founded in 1958), the KBSL is the top women’s basketball league in Turkey while also boasting some of the best teams that compete in the Euroleague. With strong financial backing and a passionate basketball culture, Turkey has become a key destination for elite players looking to refine their game year-round.
Key Teams & Players
Fenerbahçe Opet is the most successful team in the Turkish Women's Basketball League, boasting 17 championships (and 51 total titles if you include previous iterations of the league). They are also the reigning EuroLeague champions, having won back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024, and they remain undefeated heading into this year’s quarterfinals.
The club has a storied history and has attracted some of the best talent in the world, including Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier, Satou Sabally, Tina Charles, Chelsea Gray, Candace Parker, and Diana Taurasi, just to name a few. With strong financial backing and elite-level coaching, Fenerbahçe continues to be a dominant force in both domestic and international competition.
The 2024-2025 Roster includes: Gabby Williams, Emma Meesseman, Sevgi Uzun, Kayla Mcbride (Who will be joining after Unrivaled), Nyara Sabally, Tina Charles, and Julie Allemand
ÇBK Mersin/ Çukurova Basketbol is one of the top contenders in the KBSL and a rising powerhouse in European basketball. The club has consistently competed at a high level, finishing as the EuroLeague runners-up in 2023, and remains a strong force in both domestic and international play. They are the winners of the 2024 Turkish Cup
Mersin has built a reputation for attracting elite talent, with past and present stars including Jonquel Jones, Chelsea Gray, DeWanna Bonner, Tiffany Hayes, and Temi Fagbenle. With a deep roster and strong performances in both the Turkish league and EuroLeague, ÇBK Mersin continues to establish itself as one of the premier destinations for top-tier WNBA players looking to compete overseas.
The 2024-2025 Roster includes Tierra McCowan, Marina Johannès, Bridget Carleton, Natasha Howard, and Iliana Rupert
Galatasaray S.K. is one of the most historic and successful clubs in Turkish women's basketball, known for its passionate fan base and strong presence in both the Turkish Women’s Basketball Super League (KBSL) and EuroCup Women. The club made history by winning the EuroLeague Women title in 2014, becoming the first Turkish team to claim the prestigious championship.
Over the years, Galatasaray has been home to several WNBA stars, including Epiphanny Prince, Sylvia Fowles, Courtney Williams, Allie Quigley, and Angel McCoughtry. The team continues to be a strong competitor in Turkish and European basketball, consistently attracting top talent and pushing for deep playoff runs.
The 2024-2025 Roster includes Julie Vanloo, Li Yueru, and Cecilia Zandalasini
Beşiktaş HDI Sigorta is a well-respected club in the KBSL, known for its passionate fan base and competitive spirit. While not always a dominant force like Fenerbahçe or Galatasaray, Beşiktaş has a strong basketball tradition and consistently competes at a high level in both domestic and European competitions.
The club has attracted notable WNBA and international talent over the years, with players like Shavonte Zellous, Kia Vaughn, and Nika Mühl making an impact. Beşiktaş continues to develop talent and challenge top teams in Turkey, making them a key team to watch in the league.
The 2024-2025 Roster includes Nika Mühl (out with an ACL tear), Dana Evans, Holly Winterburn, Temi Fagbenele
Resources I Used
Team by Team Updates
Atlanta Dream
Overseas and Offseason :
Players | Overseas Team |
|---|---|
Haley Jones | Geelong United- Australia |
Holly Winterburn | Besiktas- Turkey |
Naz Hillmon | Southside Flyers- Australia (now in Unrivaled) |
Nia Coffey | Townsville Fire- Australia |
Lorela Cubaj | Venezia- Italy |
Shatori Walker-Kimbrough | Gorzow— Poland |
Maya Caldwell | Girona- Spain (Left for AU Basketball) |
Brionna Jones | USK Prague- Czech Republic |
Aerial Powers- Free Agent not yet signed anywhere but she played here last | Kayseri- Turkey |
Jordin Canada, Brittney Griner, Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray, Naz Hillmon | Unrivaled |
Chicago Sky
Overseas and Offseason: Chicago’s Overseas Tracker: https://sky.wnba.com/overseas-landing-page
Players | Overseas Team |
|---|---|
Kamilla Cardoso, Arella Guirantes | Shanghai- China |
Michaela Onyenwere | Jiangsu- China |
Ariel Atkins | Fenerbahçe S.K.- Turkey (She left to join Unrivaled ) |
Alex Wilson | Perth Lynx- Australia |
Angel Reese, Ariel Atkins, Courtney Vandersloot, | Unrivaled |
Elizabeth Williams, Kia Nurse | Athletes Unlimited |
Connecticut Sun
Overseas and Offseason
Dallas Wings
Overseas and Offseason:https://wings.wnba.com/dallas-wings-overseas
Players | Overseas Team |
|---|---|
Mikiah Herbert Harrigan | Avenida-Spain |
Teaira McCowan | Cukurova- Turkey |
NaLyssa Smith | Zhejiang- China (Left due to injury and joined Unrivaled for a little bit ) |
Joyner Holmes | Athinaikos as Vurona -Greece |
Ty Harris | Liaoning- China (Left for AU Basketball) |
Myisha Hines-Allen | Heilongjiang- China |
Ty Harris, Maddy Siegrist | Athletes Unlimted |
Dijonai Carrington, Arike Ogunbowale, | Unrivaled |
Golden State Valkyries
Overseas and Offseason
Indiana Fever
Overseas and Offseason
Players | Overseas Team |
|---|---|
Kelsey Mitchell | Shanxi- China |
Brianna Turner | Adelaide Lightning- Australia |
Natasha Howard | Cukurova- Turkey |
Damiris Dantas | Botaş SK- Turkey |
Lexi Hull, Aliyah Boston | Unrivaled |
Sydney Colson | Athletes Unlimted |
Las Vegas Aces
Overseas and Offseason: https://aces.wnba.com/news/category/aces-away
Players | Overseas Team |
|---|---|
Cheyenne Parker Tyus, Queen Egbo | Beijing- China |
Dana Evans | Besiktas- Turkey |
Tiffany Mitchell | Israel |
Megan Gustafson | Spanish National Team EuroBasket qualifiers |
Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Jewell Loyd | Unrivaled |
Kiersten Bell, Crystal Bradford | Athletes Unlimited |
Los Angeles Sparks
Overseas and Offseason
Players | Overseas Team |
|---|---|
Emma Cannon | Polkowice- Poland |
Julie Allemand | Fenerbahçe S.K. - Turkey |
Aari McDonald | Beijing- China |
Oydessy Sims | HeNan- China (Left for AU Basketball) |
Mercedes Russell | Heilongjiang - China |
Crystal Dangerfield - Free Agent not yet signed anywhere but she played here last | Kayseri - Turkey |
Minnesota Lynx
Overseas and Offseason
New York Liberty
Overseas and Offseason: https://liberty.wnba.com/news/libs-abroad-february-2025-recap
Phoenix Mercury
Overseas and Offseason
Players | Overseas Team |
|---|---|
Sami Whitcomb | Bendigo Spirit- Australia |
Celeste Taylor | Sydney Flames - Australia |
Natasha Mack | Girona- Spain |
Sevgi Uzun | Fenerbahçe S.K. - Turkey |
Kalani Brown | Inner Mongolia- China |
Seattle Storm
Overseas and Offseason
Players | Overseas Team |
|---|---|
Gabby Williams | Fenerbahçe S.K. -Turkey |
Nika Muhl | Besiktas- Turkey |
Li Yueru | Galatasaray- Turkey |
Erica Wheeler | Nesibe Aydin- Turkey |
Ezi Magbegor | USK Prague- Czech Republic |
Jordan Hurston, Lexie Brown, Alysha Clark | Athletes Unlimited (Jordan tore her ACL in AU) |
Katie Lou Samuelson, Skylar Diggins Smith | Unrivaled |
Washington Mystics
Overseas and Offseason:https://mystics.wnba.com/news/category/mystics-on-the-map-2
Players | Overseas Team |
|---|---|
Taylor Soule | Zaglebie Sosnowiec - Poland |
Sika Kone | Avenida - Spain |
Karlie Samuelson | Çukurova - Turkey |
Sug Sutton | Orman- Turkey |
Emily Engstler | Hapoel Lev Jerusalem- Israel |
Aaliyah Edwards, Stefanie Dolson, Brittney Sykes, Shakira Austin | Unrivaled |
Hoops & Hype: Media Picks
Check out some of the cool podcasts, videos, reads, and fashion I saw this week.
