Galatasaray, Fenerbahce set for historic EuroLeague Women final

Galatasaray Cagdas Faktoring defeated Casademont Zaragoza 63-56 in the FIBA Women’s EuroLeague semifinal to advance to the final, where they will face Fenerbahce Opet in an all-Turkish showdown on April 19 at 9 p.m. Turkish local time.

Fast start sets tone as Galatasaray pull away early

Galatasaray came out strongly and quickly took control of the game with an early scoring run. Long-range shots from Johannes helped stretch the lead, while Smalls added points from the free-throw line, giving the Turkish side a commanding advantage in the opening minutes.

With disciplined defense limiting Zaragoza’s offense, Galatasaray built a dominant first-quarter lead and closed the period far ahead, effectively setting the tone for the rest of the game.

Control continues before Zaragoza attempt to respond

The second quarter followed a similar pattern, as Galatasaray continued to build momentum through inside scoring and consistent offensive execution. Despite individual efforts from Zaragoza, including contributions from Hempe, the Spanish side struggled to keep up.

Galatasaray maintained control through players such as Kuier and Smalls, heading into halftime with a comfortable lead.

Elizabeth Williams of Galatasaray Cagdas Faktoring competes against Aminata Gueye of Casademont Zaragoza during the FIBA Women’s EuroLeague Final Six semifinal at Principe Felipe Sports Hall in Zaragoza, Spain, April 17, 2026. (AA Photo)

Spanish side push back but Galatasaray hold firm

After the break, Zaragoza began to increase pressure, supported by their home crowd. A brief scoring run helped them cut into the deficit, prompting a timeout from Galatasaray’s head coach Firat Okul following a three-point shot from Vorackova.

Although Zaragoza managed to narrow the gap during this phase, Galatasaray retained their advantage heading into the final quarter.

Late tension as Zaragoza closes gap, but win secured

The final period saw Zaragoza continue their push, with Leite’s three-point shooting reducing the margin and raising late tension. Hempe’s late basket brought the difference down to six points in the closing moments.

However, Galatasaray responded just in time to regain control and held on to secure a 63-56 victory, booking their place in the EuroLeague Women final for the second time in club history.

All-Turkish final awaits

With this result, Galatasaray will face Fenerbahce Opet in the final, guaranteeing a Turkish champion in Europe’s top-tier women’s basketball competition.

April 18, 2026 09:48 AM GMT+03:00