VakifBank crowned 2024–25 Sultans League champions
VakifBank wins Sultans League play-off final series 3-0 against Fenerbahce Medicana and lifts trophy, Istanbul, Türkiye, April 22, 2025. (AA Photo)
VakifBank claimed the 2024–25 Vodafone Sultanlar League championship title after defeating Fenerbahce Medicana 3-1 in the third match of the play-off finals, completing a clean 3-0 sweep in the best-of-five series.
The Istanbul-based club, coached by Italian head coach Giovanni Guidetti, captured its first league title in three years and 14th overall. VakifBank has now secured the championship eight times in the last 13 seasons.
Awards, final match highlights
The championship trophy was presented by Mehmet Akif Ustundag, president of the Turkish Volleyball Federation, to team captain Zehra Gunes. VakifBank players celebrated their title on court, lifting the trophy together.
Cansu Ozbay was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the finals series, while Kiera Van Ryk earned the award for fastest server of the season.
In the final match, VakifBank dominated the first two sets with powerful offense and disciplined defense, winning 25-16 and 25-15. Fenerbahce Medicana fought back in the third set, led by Melissa Vargas and Eda Erdem, taking it 25-19. However, VakifBank regained control in the fourth and final set, sealing the victory with a 25-19 score.
Pioneer of women’s basketball: VakifBank
Founded in 1986 as Gunes Sigorta Sports Club and later restructured through a 1999 merger with Ankara VakifBank, the team became known as VakifBank Gunes Sigorta. It has competed under the name VakifBank Sports Club since 2011.
The club won its first Turkish league title in the 1991–92 season and continued to build a dominant legacy. Previous championship seasons include:
- As VakifBank: 1991–92, 1996–97, 1997–98
- As VakifBank Gunes Sigorta: 2003–04, 2004–05
- As VakifBank Sports Club: 2012–13, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22, and 2024–25
