Preview: Neftyanik at Samara, Women’s Professional Basketball

SAMARA, Russia (Interstat) — Two teams at the bottom of the standings will meet Wednesday when Samara hosts Neftyanik in a Russian women’s professional basketball league matchup.

The game, scheduled for April 1, 2026, pits a struggling Samara squad (8-19) against a Neftyanik team (5-22) with the league’s worst record. Despite their positions, the season series has belonged decisively to the visitors. Neftyanik has won all three head-to-head meetings this season, including a 68-64 home victory on Feb. 19.

Neftyanik enters on a six-game losing streak, most recently falling 80-75 to Dyn Novosibirsk on March 5. In that loss, center Anna Pachurina was a bright spot, scoring 22 points with three blocks. Guard Kristina Safonova dished out 10 assists.

Samara snapped a two-game skid with a 73-62 home win over Ivanovo on March 4. Forward Elena Mikhailova nearly recorded a triple-double in that contest, posting 17 points, seven rebounds and eight assists. Power forward Sabina Abaidullina added 18 points and seven rebounds.

The home team will look to leverage its recent victory and home court to finally solve Neftyanik. Samara’s offense, which produced 79 points in a narrow win over MBA on Feb. 28, will test a Neftyanik defense that has allowed an average of 76.2 points during its current losing streak.

For Neftyanik, replicating its prior defensive success against Samara, which has averaged just 63.7 points in their three meetings this season, will be critical. The performance of Pachurina inside against Samara’s Viktoriya Scherbakova (10 points, nine rebounds last game) will be a key matchup.

This contest is the first of two consecutive games between the clubs, with a rematch scheduled in Neftyanik’s arena on April 6.

Tip-off is set for Wednesday in Samara.