The 2026 AXA Sigorta Women’s Champions Cup concluded with VakıfBank securing the title after a tense 3-2 victory over Eczacıbaşı Peron İstanbul at the Antalya Sports Hall. With this victory, VakıfBank claimed its sixth championship in the tournament’s history, pulling level with Fenerbahçe for the most titles won in the competition.
Antalya Sports Hall Final Set Drama
Playing before a capacity crowd in Antalya, VakıfBank opened the match strongly, taking the first set 25-21 behind scoring from Zehra and Markova. The second set saw VakıfBank maintain control in the closing stages to win 25-23 and build a 2-0 match lead. Eczacıbaşı responded in the third set, maintaining the lead throughout and taking it 25-19 behind the play of Ebrar Karkurt to cut the deficit to 2-1. Eczacıbaşı then dominated the fourth set 25-17, forcing a decisive fifth set after overcoming an early 6-3 deficit and a timeout called by VakıfBank coach Giovanni Guidetti at 11-9. In the final set, VakıfBank regained the upper hand, winning 15-10 to seal the 3-2 match victory in a contest that lasted 135 minutes.
Dignitaries and Official Attendance
The match drew significant figures from sports administration and government. The match was attended by Turkish Volleyball Federation (TVF) President Mehmet Akif Üstündağ, AXA Türkiye CEO Yavuz Ölken, Antalya Governor Hulusi Şahin, and AK Parti Konya Deputy Mehmet Baykan. Additional attendees included Chief Public Prosecutor Fatih Kocaman, former AK Parti Antalya Deputy Menderes Türel, Antalya Youth and Sports Provincial Director Yavuz Gürhan, VakıfBank General Manager Osman Arslan, and TVF Board Members.
Referees and Rosters for Championship Match
The championship match was officiated by referees Yavuz Akdemir and Sevilay Gezer Boyacı. VakıfBank’s championship squad featured Cazaute, Cansu Özbay, Deniz Uyanık, Zehra Güneş, Boskovic, and Markova, with substitutions including Ivanovic, Brancuska, Aylin Uysalcan, Berka Buse Özden, Eylül Akarçeşme Yatgın, and Naz Aydemir Akyol. Eczacıbaşı Peron İstanbul fielded Aslı Kalaç, Elif Şahin, Uzelac, Antropova, Weitzel, and Ebrar Karakurt, backed by Dilay Özdemir, Simge Akoz, Yaprak Erkek, Mayu Ishikawa, Dana Rettke, and Dudova. The set scores broke down across 135 minutes of total playing time as 25-21, 25-23, 19-25, 17-25, and 15-10.
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