FC PORTO chase second appearance in elite #CLVolleyW group stage
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Portugal’s reigning national champions FC PORTO are just about to contest the elite CEV Champions League Volley for the second time in their history. Their maiden participation in the 2024/2025 season was a historic moment for both the club and Portuguese Volleyball at large. For the first time, the women’s team of FC PORTO reached the group stage of Europe’s most prestigious club competition, becoming the first Portuguese women’s team to achieve this feat in 20 years. They return to this unique stage this coming Thursday, October 22 when they host their Spanish counterparts Fundación Cajasol ANDALUCÍA in the first of two matches scheduled for Round 2.
Back in 2024/2025, FC PORTO secured progression to the group stage after overcoming Spain’s Hidramar GRAN CANARIA in the early rounds. Drawn in Pool C, FC PORTO faced three top European teams: Numia Vero Volley MILANO from Italy, record-winners VakifBank ISTANBUL from Türkiye, and Calcit KAMNIK from Slovenia. Across the six group-stage matches, the team recorded two wins and four losses, finishing third in the pool. One of the highlights came on 28 November 2024, when FC PORTO defeated Calcit KAMNIK 3-0 at Dragão Arena, thus securing the first-ever group-stage victory by a Portuguese women’s team in the CEV Champions League. The two teams met again in the last leg on 22 January 2025, when FC PORTO staged an impressive comeback away from home, recovering from a two-set deficit to win 3-2. This victory allowed FC PORTO to continue their European campaign, securing a place in the quarter-finals of the CEV Volleyball Cup.
Since crowning themselves national champions for 2026, FC PORTO experienced several changes to its roster during the summer. The squad saw the departure of six players and the arrival of four new athletes. Among those leaving, Natalia Paszkowska departed the team due to an injury, while Joana Resende decided to end her professional career. Four other players also moved on to new clubs: Jasmine Rivest joined Denizli Büyükşehir Belediyespor, Bruna Correia moved to AA São Mamede, Mika Grbavica signed with KS DevelopRes Rzeszów, and Shayla Hoeft joined Kurobe Aqua Fairies Toyama.
To strengthen the squad for the upcoming season, FC PORTO welcomed four new players. Caylen Alexander arrived from Missouri University, Natasa Cikiriz joined from Afyon Belediye Yüntaş Spor Kulübü, Nieko Thomas came from the Long Beach State 49ers, and Grace Calnan arrived from FC Barcelona.
Miguel Coelho“Knowing that we will be playing against the best teams from each country, this challenge must be seen as an opportunity – an opportunity to test ourselves against the best teams and try to qualify for the group stage of the best competition in the world. The Dragão Arena will be crucial in helping us make this a difficult game for our opponents. We will do our best to rise to the level that this competition demands of every team.”
Head coach of FC PORTO
Kelsey Veltman“Being able to have the advantage of the first game at home is amazing, it can help give us the momentum and confidence to compete against the Spanish Champions to the best of our abilities. And knowing our fans, it will be an electric environment.”
Player of FC PORTO