After last year’s change in format for health and safety, the competition returned to its traditional two-group format on Wednesday with teams getting host their share of the games.
Group A:
The two teams with the most championships squared off in the first game in this group with questions about whether an early-season surprise could be possible in the veins of the last great upset in Riga. Ekaterinburg was not particularly dominant, but took care of business with a 71-56 win. Reyer Venezia was closer to full strength as Yvonne Anderson led them past qualifiers Szekszard 80-59. USK Praha looked like they could get a win behind Maria Conde and Dragana Stankovic while missing stars, but Olivia Epoupa and Lattes Montpellier rallied late at home for a 75-74 win. The last game of the round was in Salamanca as the all-domestic lineup for MBA Moscow held up well against Avenida, but lost 70-64.
October 6, 2021
Riga vs. Ekaterinburg 56-71 TTT Jasa 14 Sarauskaite 11/11r Thomas 8 Handy 6 Basko 5 UMMC Vadeeva 16/6r Torrens 12/7r Shilova 11 Belyakova 11 Meesseman 9/9r Bentley 4/6a
Reyer Venezia vs. Szekszard 80-59 REYER Anderson 23 Penna 13 Carangelo 12/6r Thornton 10 Attura 5 KSC Milic 17/7r Goree 14/6r Studer 14 Vorpahl 4 Krnjic 2
Lattes Montpellier vs. USK Praha 75-74 BLMA Epoupa 22/8r/6a Filip 14 Peters 14 Wallace 14 Warley-Talbert 4/6r USK Conde 23/7r Stankovic 20/7r Oblak 14/7r/6a Vorackova 7/12r
October 7, 2021
Avenida vs. MBA Moscow 70-64 AVEN Hof 15/6r Rodriguez 14/9r Dominguez 13/7a Vilaro 8/6r Fasoula 8 Cazorla 3 Evans 2 Alarie 2 Samuelson 0 MBA Glonti 16 Logunova 12/6r Korshakova 12 Maiga 10/11r
Group B:
The first game of the season was in this group with two teams trying to fight some disappointment from last season. Dynamo Kursk is not at full strength yet, but Eva Lisec and Natasha Howard carried them past Arka Gdynia, which was led by Megan Gustafson and Alice Kunek, 86-76. In many ways, it was a shame that the big rivalry game was schedule for the first gameday as neither team was at strength and they had not had the chance to play another competitive game. Tina Krajisnik provided an immediate impact for Galatasaray alongside Pelin Bilgic, but it was a tough first overseas test for Chelsea Dungee as they lost 89-69. Alina Iagupova was brilliant for Fenerbahce with Kayla McBride providing additional backcourt scoring, but a team that figures to have fantastic depth only played seven in their opener. Girona had a golden chance for a good start at home with Sopron being hit harder by absences, but the visitors did enough late to leave with a 68-63 win. Winning the qualifier meant Thursday night games in Schio and they had a great first one, rolling past Landes 96-56.
October 6, 2021
Dynamo Kursk vs. Arka Gdynia 86-76 DK Lisec 30/6r/6s Howard 22/11r Kozik 12 Baric 3 VBW Gustafson 26 Kunek 20/7r/7a Bertsch 13/9r Kastanek 6 Dobrowolska 0
Galatasaray vs. Fenerbahce 69-89 GALA Krajisnik 23/12r Bilgic 20 Steinberga 10 Dungee 3 FENER Iagupova 29/11a McBride 21 Williams 18/11r/6b Zahui B 6 Canitez 2
Girona vs. Sopron 63-68 GIRO Gardner 17 Burke 15/7r Drammeh 12 Reisingerova 8 Flores 7/7r SOP A. Varga 15 Hatar 13/11r Williams 11 Gaye 10/8r
October 7, 2021
Schio vs. Landes 96-56 SCH Laksa 18 Keys 17/10r Dotto 14 Gruda 13/19r Andre’ 12/6r Verona 10/6a BLAN Dumerc 14 Abega 13 Tolo 10/7r Ajemba 8/6r Fauthoux 0