ZVVZ USK Praha’s impressive run in the 2025-2026 EuroLeague Women’s competition came to an end on , with a 73-66 loss to Casademont Zaragoza in the second game of their play-in series. The defeat means the Czech champions will not advance to the Final Six tournament this year, marking an earlier-than-expected exit for the defending champions.
Despite a strong individual performance from Valeriane Ayayi, who scored 23 points, USK Praha was unable to overcome a determined Zaragoza team on their home court. The Spanish team secured the series victory with a 2-0 sweep, earning a place in the Final Six.
The game saw USK Praha struggle with defensive lapses and offensive errors, hindering their ability to maintain a consistent lead. While they initially kept pace with Zaragoza, the team fell behind in the second quarter, entering halftime trailing 39-30. The second half proved even more challenging, with the team facing a significant deficit early on.
Zaragoza extended their advantage in the third quarter, building a substantial 17-point lead. A three-pointer from Czech representative Veronika Voráčková, playing for Zaragoza, further solidified their position. Despite a late surge from USK Praha, they were unable to close the gap, with Zaragoza ultimately securing the 73-66 victory.
Ayayi’s performance was a bright spot for USK Praha, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the loss. Janelle Salaünová contributed 15 points, while Feaginová added 8. For Zaragoza, Voráčková scored 11 points, contributing to the team’s overall success.
This season’s outcome represents a shift for USK Praha, particularly considering their triumph in the previous year’s EuroLeague Women’s championship. The absence of key player Brionna Jones due to injury, coupled with a significantly younger roster, appears to have played a role in their earlier-than-anticipated exit from the competition. The team finished the first round of play with a 3-3 record, opening the second round with a 64-55 win over Galatasaray Çağdaş Faktoring on .
The play-in series began with a loss for USK Praha in the first game, necessitating a win in Zaragoza to force a decisive third match. However, despite their efforts, they were unable to secure the victory needed to continue their EuroLeague journey. The team demonstrated resilience in extra-effort categories, scoring more points off turnovers, second-chance points, and points in the paint, but Zaragoza’s consistent performance proved too strong.
The EuroLeague Women play-ins, which began on , feature a new format with semifinal and quarterfinal play-ins. The top eight finishers from group play compete in best-of-three series to determine who will advance to the Final Six. The winners of the semifinal play-ins advance directly to the second round, while the losers will face the winners of the quarterfinal play-ins in the first round. The losers of the quarterfinal play-ins are eliminated from the competition.
The competition features notable players such as Gabby Williams and Fenerbahçe Opet, who are considered favorites. The play-ins are designed to create fresh matchups, as teams have not faced each other during group play, adding an element of unpredictability and excitement for fans. The action is available to watch live and for free on FIBA’s EuroLeague Women YouTube channel.
Despite the disappointing end to their EuroLeague campaign, USK Praha’s Valeriane Ayayi demonstrated her continued skill and leadership, earning recognition as a key player for the team. The team’s performance highlights the challenges of maintaining championship form with roster changes and the importance of consistent play throughout the season.
