Regular Season Play is Underway for Jessica Davenport & the Lady Buckeyes Overseas

(Jessica Davenport - Vologda-Chevakata - Russia 2010)

The United States is home to the National Basketball Association, the number one basketball league in the world in terms of talent, professionalism, organization, attendance, and money. The NBA has gradually expanded to 30+ teams with another 16 NBA Developmental teams. The U.S as the epicenter of basketball is indeed a sweet deal for American male ball players, but female hoopers have unfortunately not always enjoyed the luxury of a strong national league.

For decades the best woman players have had to continue their pro careers overseas in addition to minor leagues in the States. While the WNBA has risen to be the top women's league in the world, it has not changed the fact that as soon as the season is over, some of the top players will pack their bags and head overseas for a followup season in the best international leagues.

The Russian Super A League is sure to be one of the toughest national leagues overseas for the 2010/2011 season. The import list of WNBA names currently in this league reads like a who's who of greats including Candace Parker, Lauren Jackson, Sue Bird, Cappie Pondexter, Tina Charles, Deanna Nolan, Becky Hammon, and former Ohio State Buckeye Jessica Davenport.

Davenport, still a member of the Indiana Fever, currently plays for a club called Chevakata (logo above) in Vologda, Russia. Jessica recently blogged about her arrival to Russia & pre-season adventures. The four year pro scored 16 points in the regular season opener vs Dynamo Kursk on October 16, but Chevakata fell in defeat by a score 89-71. This team will find itself in high level games all season long in & outside of Russia as they play in the 2010/2011 FIBA Eurocup Competition as well. They are grouped with a team from Bosnia & one from Lithuania..which means away games in those countries (4 in total starting on Oct. 28..Eurocup schedule). Chevakata's next big Russian league game is on October 31 when they play UMMC Ekaterinburg, the squad with Candace Parker, Cappie Pondexter, Nolan and Crystal Langhorne!

Fever: JDav Blogs from Russia

As Jessica holds it down out in Russia, 3 more Buckeyes are way West of her in Portugal & Spain.

Big time scorer Brandie Hoskins currently plays for Boa Viagem of Portugal's top women's division. Her team is actually located in Angra do Heroismo, a city of the Portuguese autonomous island Terceir (map image). Viagem split their first two games of the season. Hoskins scored 16 an the season opening W vs AD Vagos (oct 16 - clips)..she then exploded for 28 points & 6 rebounds in an eight point loss to Olivias on the 17th (clips..Hoskins is #15).

Lethal post player Star Allen plays in the same league as Hoskins, her team Quinta Dos Lombos (she is not listed on eurobasket's roster yet, but her name looms large on the boxscores) is located in the Portuguese (flag of Portugal pictured above left) mainland municipality of Carcavelos. Allen has played a major role in Quinta's 2-0 start with a 19 point/7 rebound effort in game one and a 23 point/9 rebound outburst in game two! (October 16 & 17)

Both Hoskins & Allen will be in action on Saturday October 23rd in week 3 play. (schedule)

Evan Turner is not the only Buckeye rookie out there. Andrea Walker is playing her first season of overseas ball in the Spanish LF2 League for a club called CB Pio XII (Santiago de Compostela, Spain)

Pio XII is another team that will be attempting to go 3-0 on Saturday whenn they play Caceres.

(Videos - clips #11 Andrea Walker & Pio XII vs Aros Leon in the Regular Season & Univ. Ferrol from te pre-season)