UMMC Ekaterinburg sign Diana Taurasi

Posted by: Jānis Kacēns 2012-05-16 09:52 in Coaches/Players News, Domestic leagues, EuroLeague Women, Featured

Diana Taurasi photo: FIBA Europe/Galatasaray

UMMC Ekaterinburg have announced the signing of American guard Diana Taurasi.

Taurasi moves to Ekaterinburg after a season with Galatasaray, season with Fenerbahce, four seasons with Sparta&K and a season with Dynamo Moscow. With Sparta&K she won four EuroLeague Women titles, UMMC obviously want a repeat of that.

She was last ELW’s top scorer with 20.9 points per game, she also averaged 4.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists while playing for Galatasaray. Though the team finished only fifth in ELW.

With Sue Bird and Candace Parker on board it’s obvious that there’s one American too much on the team. The popular scenario seems to be that they will play Parker and Taurasi until New Years in ELW, then when Sue Bird joins the team it will be the duo of Taurasi and Bird. Parker will be able to continue to play for UMMC in Russian league as an increase to three non-European players is expected in the league rules.

Alex

it is death for the team
Michelle

No more excuses for UMMC this time. This is the best team they had in a while with Taurasi, Bird, Parker, Nolan, Gruda etc.

Return of the duo Birdy and DT. Will be excited to see them back on the court together like old times only playing for the rival this time :P
marrek

What ‘team’? Didn’t see anything like that in Ekaterinburg for the last seasons… But a part of that: Alex is right. Kamikaze deal!
Alex

Tarazi did not win in Russia. Gatasaray did not win the Euroleague with Taurasi. Parker will not be able to play in the Euroleague, because we have two American women – Bird and Tarazi. Popova is a bad player, it is unequal substitution Abrosimova. I feel sorry for my team
crassy

They need good coach, not good, great coach, extremly good coach…to make chemistry, to motivate stars-theres only one who can do it, Laslo Ratgeber, and thats the best move of ummc. congratulation-with Ratgeber noone will win against them. He had 12-0 with Fener until Taurasi was there. Played the best basketball ever in Europe with Spartak. Gratulation once again–Ummc finally champions of euroleague..
http://www.facebook.com/Martinez.Rivera32 darwing martinez

UMMC was the intention of forever, because with so much money not feel confident of winning all the skills you seek.
But always be the Cinderella team.
As for deciding who will make playing in the Euroleague Parker, Bird and Taurasi ..?
Tex

Alex doesn’t seem to know much about Euroleague women’s basketball. With Taurasi leading the way, Spartak Moscow won four straight European championships.
Ball18

Sue Bird has Israeli citizenship.. The too many American’s thing shouldn’t be an issue. All three (Bird, Taurasi, and Parker) should be able to play in ALL games regardless of when Sue Bird joins the team.
- JanisK
  
  Rules were changed 2 seasons ago. If she has 2 citizenships and she has played for USA NT in FIBA events, her basketball citizenship will be American.
Vzorodov

So sorry that Cappie Pondexter does’t play in UMMC at that time. Cappie and Diana would give a lot of impression after each game.