Preview of Women’s Professional Basketball Game in Russia

OMSK, Russia (Interstat) — Two teams at the bottom of the standings seeking a rare win will meet Wednesday when Neftyanik hosts Dyn Novosibirsk in a Russian women’s professional basketball league matchup.

The game is scheduled for April 8, 2026, in Omsk.

Neftyanik (8-23) holds a slim one-game advantage over Dyn Novosibirsk (7-26) in the season ledger. Both clubs are coming off dramatically different results in their most recent contests. Neftyanik snapped a three-game skid with a dominant 71-53 victory over Samara on Monday. Dyn Novosibirsk, meanwhile, suffered a heartbreaking 54-53 loss at Ivanovo on Tuesday, its fourth defeat in five games.

The recent head-to-head series has favored the visitors. Dyn Novosibirsk has won the last three meetings, including a 67-59 home victory just five days ago on April 3. Forward Viktoriya Yakovleva was instrumental in that win, contributing 9 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and a block in 29 minutes. Over her last five games, Yakovleva is averaging 7.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per contest and will be a key player for the Novosibirsk side.

Neftyanik will counter with forward Kristina Safonova, who is coming off a strong all-around performance in Monday’s win, posting 6 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and a block. Safonova has been a consistent force on the boards, recording double-digit rebounds in two of her last five games, including an 11-rebound effort in a win over Ivanovo on April 2.

Despite their poor overall records, these matchups have been competitive. The last four meetings have been decided by an average of 7.5 points, with Neftyanik’s last win in the series dating back to October 2025.

Wednesday’s game offers a critical opportunity for either team to build momentum in the final stretch of the season and escape the league cellar.