---
title: "\"We're Not Looking for Anyone\": Ukrainian Basketball Champion Dnipro Begins Preparation for the 2026/27 Season"
description: "Ukrainian basketball champion Dnipro, under the leadership of Vladimir Koval, has begun preparation for the 2026/27 season. The coach reported on the physical stage, friendly matches in Ivano-Frankivsk and Lutsk, and stated that the club is retaining its core, with Artem Smytyukh being the only newcomer."
date: 2026-09-01T15:48:02.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/dnipro-basketball-preparation-2026-27-koval
tags: [basketball, dnipro, ukraine-superleague, vladimir-koval, preseason, artem-smytyuk]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# "We're Not Looking for Anyone": Ukrainian Basketball Champion Dnipro Begins Preparation for the 2026/27 Season

![Head coach of Dnipro basketball club during pre-season 2026/27 training session](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/01/dnipro-basketbol-podgotovka-sezon-2026-koval/dnipro-basketbol-podgotovka-sezon-2026-koval-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- Dnipro began the first stage of preparation for the 2026/27 season with a focus on physical work in the gym, on the stadium, and on the court
- Vladimir Koval expressed satisfaction with the players' form and attitude after the vacation
- The team is set to play a tournament in Ivano-Frankivsk (3 matches) and a friendly game against Volyn in Lutsk
- The club is not planning major transfers: the only newcomer is Artem Smytyukh from Kyiv-Basket
- Koval does not rule out personnel changes during the championship depending on how the season develops

The reigning Ukrainian basketball champion — Dnipro of Dnipro — has officially begun preparations for the new Superleague season. The team's head coach, Vladimir Koval, told the official website of the National Basketball Federation of Ukraine about the progress of the first stage of pre-season work, upcoming friendly matches, and the club's personnel policy. According to the coach, the squad returned from vacation in excellent shape and is showing a high level of motivation, which allows the coaching staff to look optimistically at the upcoming championship.

### First Stage: Focus on Physical Conditioning

As Koval reported, the current stage of preparation is focused primarily on physical work. Dnipro's basketball players trained in the gym, on the stadium, and directly on the court — this comprehensive approach allows for a thorough assessment of the players' readiness after the summer break. The coach noted that the coaching staff was pleased with the results of the first weeks of work: "This is the first stage. The guys worked very hard, and we're satisfied with the attitude and the inspiration with which they train after the vacation. So I think everything went very well," Koval emphasized. In the coming days, the team will move to on-court work, where they will run through tactical schemes and game combinations ahead of a series of friendly matches.

### Friendly Matches: Tournament in Ivano-Frankivsk and a Game Against Volyn

Ahead of the start of the regular season, Dnipro faces a packed schedule of friendly games. The team will soon take part in a tournament in Ivano-Frankivsk, where it will play three matches. After the tournament concludes, the Dnipro-based side will play one more friendly — an away game against Volyn of Lutsk. These matches will serve as the first real test of strength for Koval's charges after the physical preparation period and will allow the coaching staff to assess how effectively the team has absorbed the tactical assignments in a competitive rhythm.

### Personnel Situation: The Club Retains Its Core

In response to questions about transfer policy, Vladimir Koval stated that Dnipro is not currently planning to look for new basketball players. According to him, the team will start the new season with virtually the same lineup that competed in the previous championship. The only newcomer on the roster is Artem Smytyukh — a former player of Kyiv-Basket who, in the coaching staff's assessment, has successfully adapted to the team and already fits into the playing system. At the same time, the coach does not rule out the possibility of personnel changes during the championship: "We will assess the situation depending on how the season develops," Koval noted, reserving the right to adjust the lineup as the tournament progresses.

### Contradictory Data

At the same time, open sources contain information about Dnipro signing an American guard, which formally contradicts Koval's words about the absence of new players in the lineup. However, this fact most likely refers to a different time period or to a player who was already on the club's roster at the time of the previous season and, accordingly, is not considered "new" in the context of the current preparation. In his interview with the federation, Koval directly states that the only newcomer is Smytyukh, and it is this version that should be considered the primary one when describing the personnel situation at the start of the 2026/27 season.

### Context: The Fight for a Third Consecutive "Gold"

It is worth recalling that Dnipro won the regular Superleague championship last season and is chasing a third consecutive title. The stability of the lineup and the continuity of the coaching staff are, most likely, the key factors the club is relying on in its fight to retain its champion status. A successful completion of the pre-season stage and productive friendly matches will be the first indicators of how realistic the ambitions of the Dnipro-based team are in the new season.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- ["We're Not Looking for Anyone": Basketball Superleague Champion Decides on Lineup for the New Season](https://sport.rbc.ua/ukr/basketball/nikogo-shukaemo-chempion-basketbolnoyi-superligi-1788277411.html) - Основной источник: интервью Владимира Коваля официальному сайту ФБУ. Подтверждены все ключевые тезисы: физический этап, турнир в Ивано-Франковске, матч с «Волынью», Смитюх как единственный новичок.
- [Dnipro Names Lineup for the Next Superleague Season](https://www.ua-football.com/sport/basketball/1664989914-dnepr-nazval-sostav-na-sleduyuschiy-sezon-superligi.html) - Вторичный источник, подтверждающий сохранение основы состава и отсутствие масштабных трансферов на старте сезона.
- [Dnipro Announces Signing of an American Guard](https://www.ua-football.com/sport/basketball/1754486089-dnepr-obyavil-o-podpisanii-amerikanskogo-zaschitnika.html) - Вторичный источник, подтверждающий сохранение основы состава и отсутствие масштабных трансферов на старте сезона.
- [Dnipro Wins the Regular Season and Chases a Third "Gold": Knockout Stage Bracket in Basketball ...](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/entertainment/dnipro-vigrav-regulyarniy-sezon-ta-yde-tretim-1774880954.html) - Контекстный источник: подтверждает статус «Днепра» как действующего чемпиона и его амбиции на третий титул подряд. Использован для введения в заключительном абзаце.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: What stage of preparation is Dnipro going through before the new season?
**A:** The team is in the first stage of preparation, with the main focus on physical work: training in the gym, on the stadium, and on the court. A transition to on-court work and a series of friendly matches lie ahead.

### Q: What friendly matches is Dnipro facing in the pre-season?
**A:** The team will soon take part in a tournament in Ivano-Frankivsk, where it will play three matches, and then face Volyn in a friendly game in Lutsk.

### Q: Who is the only newcomer in Dnipro's lineup for the 2026/27 season?
**A:** The only new player is Artem Smytyukh, who previously played for Kyiv-Basket. In the coaching staff's assessment, he has successfully adapted to the team.

### Q: Will Dnipro strengthen its roster during the season?
**A:** Vladimir Koval does not rule out personnel changes during the championship. According to him, the situation will be assessed depending on how the season develops.