for their first outing since the Paris Olympics, the Blues easy against Israel

The French women’s Basketball team made short work of the modest selection of Israel (94-52) for its first match since its Olympic silver medal, Thursday in Caen where it continued its without- fault in qualifying for Euro 2025. The Blues signed their third victory to maintain a lead over Latvia at the top of group E: a success on Sunday in Riga against the Baltics, whom they crushed in the first leg (71-49), and unless there is an unlikely combination of circumstances, they would validate their ticket for the Euro (June 18-29 in Greece, Sweden, Czech Republic and Italy), as first in their group or via one of the four best second tickets .

Even if the opponent was ideal, they did not miss their reunion with the French public who left with a narrow defeat in the final of the Olympic Games against the American queens (66-67). And even if only half of the medalists set foot on the floor, between absences (Marine Johannès, Marine Fauthoux, Iliana Rupert, Dominique Malonga), retirement (Sarah Michel Boury) and break (Alexia Chéry), the French team kept its weapons: aggressive defense, continuous intensity, athletic impact and inside (50 rebounds at 24, 54 points in the paint at 20). She added, as the match progressed before half-time (40-20, 18th), some great offensive sequences.

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Gabby Williams at the rendezvous

Les Bleues can also always count on their senior players, including Gabby Williams: winner of the Alain Gilles Trophy and unfortunate heroine of the Olympic final, started the international season on such high bases (14 pts, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 interceptions and 3 blocks in 18 minutes).

She was well accompanied by the new captain Valériane Ayayi (11 pts, 7 rebounds and 2 ints in 20 min) and Marième Badiane (11 pts in 19 min), before coach Jean-Aimé Toupane opened the bench in second period to offer their first cape to Jess-Mine Zodia and Camille Droguet. No false note marred this meeting marked by a police presence and reinforced security conditions in front of and inside the venue in the context of war in the Middle East.