Sandrine Gruda of the Connecticut Sun was named the FIBA Europe Player of the Year edging out Connecticut Sun teammate Anete Jekabsone-Zogota.

Gruda, a 6-foot-5 forward, averaged 15.4 points and 7.7 rebounds in leading France to the European championship and has continued her impressive play with UMMC Ekaterinburg, one of the leading candidates to win the EuroLeague women's title.

Speaking of the EuroLeague, the playoffs move into the quarterfinal round.

Three-time defending champion Spartak Moscow Region, led by former UConn stars Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird as well as Jekabsone-Zogota, are the top seeds and will play Fenerbahce in the best of three game quarterfinal series. Spartak will host game 1 on Feb. 23.

Gruda, former UConn star Svetlana Abrosimova and the rest of second-seeded UMMC Ekaterinburg will play Good Angel Kosice in the quarterfinals. The other two series are Wisla Can-Pack vs. Frisca Sika Brno and Ros Casares vs. Halcon Avenida.