After all, the Polish club was supposed to be in the EuroCup Women.

They only took part in the EuroLeague when CSKA Moscow suffered a financial meltdown and disbanded.

Most sides that win have at least a little bit of luck.

That said, the teams that work extremely hard tend to be the lucky ones, too.

History has already repeated itself for Wisla, who didn't qualify directly for Europe's elite club competition but received a wild card.

They will go up against Good Angels Kosice, Pecs 2010, TTT Riga, USO Mondeville and Cras Basket Taranto this year.

Jose Hernandez's Krakow outfit will have a new and improved look.

Among the newcomers to the team is Andja Jelavic, the Croatia star who this summer led her side into the EuroBasket Women 2011.

Jelavic, formerly of EuroLeague Women outfit Gospic Croatia, ran the point this summer and averaged 8.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists in a tough Group A that also included Lithuania, Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Remembering that Italy missed out on a fifth-place finish at last year's EuroBasket Women because of a narrow defeat to Greece and this summer finished third in the qualifying pool behind Lithuania and Croatia, with a Belgian team that included Ann Wauters and Kathy Wambe fourth, one understands how big of an accomplishment it was for the Croatians.

"Everything went very well," Jelavic said.

"We hope that we will do well in Poland, too.

"It was a very difficult task because we had five strong teams in our group.

"It was a real marathon, hard games every three days and a lot of travel."

Jelavic is now catching her breath and getting ready for an exciting new adventure.

She is about to play for Wisla.

The team did very well by reaching the EuroLeague Women Final Four but crashed out of the Polish play-offs in the quarter finals.

"I hope we will win the championship," she said, "and that Wisla fans will support Croatia in next year's European Championship in Poland."

It's going to be a while before Wisla have their full team.

Australia guard Erin Phillips, who led Lotos Gdynia to the Polish title last season and then decided to sign for Wisla, won't be able to link up with the club until after the FIBA World Championship for Women in the Czech Republic.

That big tournament tips off on September 23 and doesn't finish until October 3 and with the Opals the defending champions and one of the best sides in international basketball, Phillips should be a late arrival.

Hernandez is also the coach of Spain's national team and won't arrive back in Krakow until after the World Championship.

"At the beginning it will be difficult for sure," Jelavic said, "but I hope that every girl is a professional and when we return to the club, we know what to do and what our job is."