Katie Douglas had hoped to celebrate a EuroLeague Women title with Ros Casares last season but fell one-game short of the quarter-finals.

Now she'll have a shot at European glory again after signing a deal with CSKA Moscow - another club with lofty goals but one whose 2007-08 campaign unraveled when they lost to UMMC Ekaterinburg in the last eight of the EuroLeague.

CSKA, who lost EuroBasket 2007 MVP Amaya Valdemoro to Ros Casares earlier this summer, announced they had signed the high-scoring American guard and revealed they had wanted to add her last year.

"I would have loved to see Douglas in the team a year ago, too," CSKA coach Gundars Vetra said.

"That is why I am glad now that she will be at CSKA.

"She is an all-round player who successfully plays at the shooting guard/small forward positions. And when it's needed, Douglas is ready to play as a point guard."

There is no substitute for adding a winner, and that's what CSKA believe they are getting with Douglas.

"Beside Katie's consistent performances, the important fact is that her team always reaches high results," Vetra said.

"Douglas is an all-round player. She understands the game well, has a strong shot and defends well. I value these basketball qualities."

CSKA's general manager, Vitaly Trofimenko, admitted the club had been tracking Douglas for a long time.

"We've been observing Katie from her Lithuanian period, when she played for TEO (Vilnius)," he said.

"There were lots of tournaments where we played against each other. Katie has always showed a stable game, was the leader of the team.

"After Katie left TEO, their results started to suffer. This player can do everything on the court. She can score, assist, play in the team and take charge."

CSKA have also decided to bring back forward Lyudmila Sapova, and she has received a ringing endorsement from the sport director of CSKA who once coached the team, Igor Grudin.

Grudin is also the coach of Russia's national team.

"A season ago, Sapova played for CSKA but at that time she wasn't able to gain a foothold in the team."

She left for Vologda and got a lot of playing time.

"Now she is a player of the national team and looks very good," Grudin said.

"I am glad to be in CSKA again," the 24-year-old Sapova said.

"CSKA is a part of elite of European basketball and has the highest aims. I will exert every effort to be helpful where I can for the team."