Alina Yagupova and Ukrainian Women's Team Celebrate Historic Win
Alina Yagupova, captain and leader of Ukraine's women's national basketball team, has won the Women's EuroCup with her club, Cukurova Mersin. This marks a historic first European trophy for the Turkish club. In the final game, Yagupova's Cukurova Mersin faced Greek side Athinaikos, losing the single match 75:77. However, victory was secured on aggregate over the two-legged tie with a combined score of 160:157. This continental club competition is a significant achievement below the premier EuroLeague level.
In the decisive final, Yagupova played 35 minutes, contributing 10 points (4/7 on two-pointers, 0/5 from three-point range, 2/3 free throws), along with 1 rebound, 4 assists, 1 foul, and 7 turnovers. Throughout the entire EuroCup season, she featured in 8 games, averaging 29.3 minutes, 10.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.9 assists.
Ukrainian Men's National Team's Qualification Campaign
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian men's national basketball team continues its campaign in the qualification tournament for the 2027 FIBA World Cup. In the fourth round, the team fell to Spain with a score of 64:78. Spain had also defeated Ukraine in the third qualifying round, winning 86:66. Earlier in the competition, the Ukrainian squad secured an 88:71 victory over Denmark in the second round and began their qualifying run with a 92:79 win against Georgia.
In the match against Georgia, Oleksandr Kovliar was the top scorer, putting up 31 points in 37 minutes. Oleksandr Lipovyi added 13 points to the team's tally, while Viacheslav Bobrov recorded a double-double with 11 points and 15 rebounds. These performances highlight the competitive efforts of Ukrainian basketball players on the international stage.
Cukurova Mersin's victory in the Women's EuroCup underscores the rising stature of Ukrainian basketball internationally.
These events demonstrate that basketball in Ukraine possesses significant potential for further development and success in European and global competitions.
Following this remarkable achievement in the EuroCup, the focus now shifts to the Ukrainian women's national basketball team, which has successfully progressed to the next stage of the EuroBasket 2027 qualifiers. Their ongoing journey reflects the growing strength and resilience of Ukrainian basketball on the international scene. For more details on their recent advancements, visit the latest updates on the women's team.