Preview: Empoli Looks to Sweep Season Series Against Struggling Umbertide

UMBERBIDE, Italy (Interstat) — A quick rematch with playoff implications is set for Wednesday as Empoli visits Umbertide in an Italy A1 women’s professional basketball clash.

The teams just met on April 11, with Empoli securing a 77-72 home victory. That result extended Empoli’s strong run of form and deepened a recent slump for Umbertide.

Empoli (18-7 overall) enters with confidence, riding a four-game winning streak that includes the recent win over Umbertide and dominant performances against Salerno Basket and Jolly Livorno. Their success is anchored by forward Liga Vente, who dominated the last matchup with a 21-point, 12-rebound double-double in just 27 minutes. Vente has averaged 15.8 points and 7.0 rebounds over her last four games.

In contrast, Umbertide (13-12) has lost four consecutive games, all by single digits, including the five-point loss to Empoli and a heartbreaking one-point defeat to Alpo. Despite the team’s struggles, swingman Giorgia Amatori has been a bright spot. She led Umbertide with 19 points and 7 rebounds in the April 11 loss and has averaged 11.5 points over the four-game skid.

The matchup pits Empoli’s high-powered offense, which has scored 87 or more points in three of its last four outings, against an Umbertide squad searching for consistency. Empoli’s Anna Rylichova, who added 14 points and 8 rebounds in the previous meeting, provides a key secondary scoring threat.

For Umbertide, containing Vente will be a priority, but they will also need more production from their supporting cast around Amatori and center Beatrice Baldi, who grabbed 12 rebounds last week.

A win for Empoli would solidify its position near the top of the league table and complete a regular-season sweep. For Umbertide, halting the losing streak and protecting its home court at PalaMorandi is crucial to stay in the playoff hunt.

Tip-off is scheduled for Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in Umbertide.