The FFBB press conference this Wednesday, September 25, in addition to the announcement of the two coaches of the French teams, was also an opportunity to clarify the situation of French players in the WNBA. Because the summer calendar of the American league overlaps with that of international competitions, creating all sorts of difficulties. The situation of Marine Johannesdeprived of the French team last summer, had notably caused a lot of talk.
Backpedaling
To prevent this from happening again in the future, the Federation has changed its policy so that players no longer have to make the choice. A complete turnaround in one year. Which was first confirmed by the President Jean-Pierre Siutat yesterday :
“When we discussed the extension with Jean-Aimé [Toupane]that was part of the discussion. We know that this group of players made the effort to free themselves for the Olympic Games, and we thank them for that. We also know that players have to live their lives, today that is what we all want. If some of them want to go to the WNBA, they will go…
The Federation’s position is to take this state of affairs into account, because there is no reason why the girls who are in the WNBA cannot go there. Then, there will be a selection that will be made. And some players present will perhaps perform better than those who will arrive from the WNBA, because they will have played a lot…”
The extended Jean-Aimé Toupanewho is still looking to complete his staff, echoed this sentiment. However, he explained that the preparation will necessarily be truncated. The players will start their season in the WNBA, before leaving in the middle of the season to join their national team’s gathering, 14 days before the start of a major international competition. There will therefore only be two weeks of preparation with all the forces present.
“The preparation will be done in two stages. We will start with the girls who will be available with us. And then in a second stage, the girls who will come from the WNBA will join us. At the end of this preparation, we will make a selection. We will adapt, there is no problem.”
French contingent in WNBA set to grow
This summer of 2024, three French women stepped onto the WNBA courts. Two who were not involved in the Olympic Games (Lou Lopez Senechal in Dallas, Olivia Epoupa in Minnesota), and one who arrived late and was only able to play about fifteen games (Gabby Williams in Seattle). But as the latter said in a press conference, the Olympic Games in Paris “happen once in a lifetime”and this situation should not happen again.
Next season, other tricolors are expected across the Atlantic. Marine Johannes obviously, to do his fourth season in New York. But also Carla Leite And Leila Lacanrespectively chosen in 9th and 10th position of the last Draft, by Dallas and Connecticut. We can also imagine that a Iliana Rupert will want to try his luck again, or that Dominique Malonga And Janelle Salaün be drafted in 2025.
In general, female players are increasingly attracted to a career in the United States, as men are to the NBA. Rubbing shoulders with the elite of world basketball and finding a style of play different from the European game is tempting. As is the possibility of progressing at full speed in completely different level infrastructures. The Federation has in any case (finally) opened the way to this.
