UMMC Yekaterinburg have won the Russian Premier League title for the fourth consecutive season and the 19th time in club history, defeating Dynamo Kursk 3–1 in the Finals series. The Ural team sealed the championship on the road with a hard-fought 84–81 win.

The tension in the Finals grew from game to game. UMMC set the tone early, taking control with home wins at the Palace of Sports (DIVS Arena) in Yekaterinburg, 78–58 and 69–60, before Dynamo responded in Game 3 with an 83–78 victory in Kursk to extend the series. Finally, in Game 4, the Ural team closed out the series with an 84–81 win. With 3:30 remaining, Dynamo held an 81–77 lead, but UMMC answered immediately. Back-to-back baskets from Anastasia Olairi Kosu, followed by clutch free throws from Jovana Nogic, put the visitors ahead. Neither team scored for nearly two minutes down the stretch in a defensive battle. With five seconds left, Alexandria Bentley, an American who also holds Belarusian citizenship, had a chance to effectively seal the game at the line, but split her free throws to leave the door open. Dynamo had one final possession to force overtime. Tokyo 2020 Olympic 3x3 silver medalist Olga Frolkina launched a contested three-pointer at the buzzer, but missed, confirming UMMC as champions once again.

Anastasia Olairi Kosu led UMMC in Game 4 with 16 points and was named the Premier League Finals MVP. Olga Frolkina was Dynamo Kursk’s top scorer with 19 points, while Belgian two-time European champion Kyara Linskens, along with Daria Repnikova and Veronika Sazonova, added 14 points apiece.

Therefore, UMMC have now gone four straight years without a domestic defeat, consistently lifting the Premier League title, the Russian Cup, and the Super Cup. Like all Russian teams, the Ural side have been unable to compete in European competitions since 2022. If not for that restriction, the club’s total tally of major titles would likely have surpassed 50. For now, it stands at 47.

Interestingly, this season UMMC secured the major domestic trophies against different opponents. In October of last year, they defeated Nadezhda Orenburg 83–81 in the Super Cup on home court. In late January in Syktyvkar, they dominated Nika 89–55 in the Russian Cup Final. Now, they have overcome Dynamo Kursk in the battle for the Premier League title.

The All-Tournament Team includes Raisa Musina (Nika), Ashley Beverly (Nadezhda), Maria Klyundikova (UMMC), Olga Frolkina and Kyara Linskens (both Dynamo Kursk). Traditionally, the MVP — in this case UMMC’s Anastasia Olairi Kosu — is not included in the All-Tournament Team, with her spot going to another player in the same position. The Coach of the Year award left no doubt, going to UMMC head coach Dmitrii Donskov. His team suffered only two defeats across 36 games this season (27 in the regular season and 9 in the playoffs), both coming against Dynamo Kursk.

Below is the full list of UMMC players who took part in Russian Championship games during the 2025/26 season (ranked by total appearances, with points scored in brackets): Viktoriia Tretyakova (36, 231), Anastasiia Shilova (36, 172), Alexandria Bentley (Belarus; 36, 418), Megan Walker (USA; 36, 361), Maryia Papova (36, 224), Zhosselina Maiga (35, 247), Eva Lisec (Slovenia; 35, 202), Karina Nizamova (34, 176), Jovana Nogic (Serbia; 34, 353), Maria Klyundikova (30, 364), Anastasia Olairi Kosu (27, 302), Svetlana Samusheva (3, 4).

Head coach Dmitrii Donskov was assisted by two-time Olympic champion Olga Korosteleva (Barysheva), Denis Sevastjanov, and Alexandr Lisichkin. The team’s medical staff included doctor Ruslan Latypov and physiotherapist Igor V’yukhin. It is also worth noting that UMMC Yekaterinburg benefit not only from a professional coaching staff, but also from experienced and highly knowledgeable club management, led by president Andrey Kozitsyn and vice-president Igor Kudryashkin. For many years, they have provided the support necessary for sustained success.

Dmitrii Donskov, UMMC head coach:

“From the start of the Finals, I said the fans could expect very competitive games — and that’s exactly what we saw in Kursk. Dynamo put up a very strong fight in the battle for gold, and I want to congratulate them on an excellent series. Over the four seasons we have been winning everything domestically, this was the most difficult Finals series. Our team was well prepared, and we knew Kursk is especially dangerous in the fourth quarter. The game plan worked, and the players executed well defensively in key moments.”

Anastasia Olairi Kosu, UMMC player, Playoffs MVP:

“Our opponents made it a really tough game, and we gave everything we had. It came down to the final seconds - the intensity was incredible. One of the key factors was that down the stretch of the fourth quarter, we hit important shots and defended well. This individual award means a lot to me, but it is also a result of the whole team’s effort. And of course, it is symbolic that I received the award in my hometown of Kursk, where I started my basketball career.”

Final standings — Russian Premier League 2025/26:

UMMC (Yekaterinburg)

Dynamo (Kursk)

Nadezhda (Orenburg region)

Nika (Syktyvkar)

Dynamo (Moscow)

Sparta&K (Vidnoje)

MBA-MGUSiT (Moscow)

Enisey (Krasnoyarsk region)

Neftyanik-Titan (Omsk region)

BC Samara

Energy (Ivanovo)

Dynamo (Novosibirsk region) 

UMMC Yekaterinburg’s major titles

Russian Championship — 19 (2002, 2003, 2009–2021, 2023–2026)

Russian Cup — 13 (2005, 2009–2014, 2017, 2019, 2023–2026)

Russian Super Cup — 5 (2021–2025)

EuroLeague Women — 6 (2003, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021)

European SuperCup — 4 (2013, 2016, 2018, 2019)

Total: 47 titles 

Source: Rossiyskaya Gazeta