At home, they left a last memory both magnificent and bitter to the French public, a Sunday afternoon in August when the United States had seriously faltered and almost fell in the final of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (66 -67).
In Caen, Thursday November 7, the Blues found an audience who showed their attachment and offered lovely ovations. It all started with a tribute to Sarah Michel, ex-captain of the Blues, recently retired after 145 caps and present in the middle of the floor.
Then the Bleues resumed a qualifying campaign for Euro 2025 stretched over time, after successes against Latvia and Ireland at the end of 2023. Without the Calvadosian Marine Johannès, present in the stands, nor several important players (Fauthoux, Malonga, Rupert), the Blues quickly recalled the nice reservoir they have, facing an opponent who had crushed Ireland and narrowly lost to Latvia.
After an ideal first quarter (23-14, 10'), Gabby Williams (8 points) and Valériane Ayayi (7) had already shown that they were among the bosses of this selection. The second city thus got closer to 1,000 career points with the tricolor jersey (982 at the start of the match).
The gap continued to increase, the twelve Blues had already taken part in a nice offensive festival at the break (47-24, 20'), with Gabby Williams who had not really chosen to save herself (12 points , 4 assists, 4 rebounds and 20 rating after twenty minutes). Marine Johannès observed all this from the edge of the floor, before a crowd and requests for photos galore when returning to the locker room.
The twelve French women scored
After thirty minutes, the Blues maintained an infernal pace and far too high for their opponent, hoping for a three-digit victory at the finish (71-32, 30'). The twelve French women will have all scored, surrounded by blue – white – red flags at regular intervals, carried by a Marseillaise at the end of the match, a gentle reminder of the scenes of jubilation experienced this summer at Bercy.
There will not have been a hundred points at the finish (94-52), but a victory in style before going to Latvia on Sunday to try to complete their qualification for a Euro where the Blues will not have eyes only for the title.
FRANCE – ISRAEL: 94-52 (23-14, 24-10, 24-8, 23-20).
Referees: Ms. Ivanovic, Ms. Sanchez Gonzalez and Ms. Mekelova.
FRANCE : Bernies 5, Salaun 11, Williams 14, Ayayi (cap.) 11, Badiane 11. Then Lacan 4, Touré 13, Foppossi 7, Tadic 6, Astier 3, Droguet 3, Zodia 6. Coach : Jean-Aimé Toupane.
ISRAEL: Rotberg 14, Dahan Sujic 7, D. Karsh 4, Zipel, Raber 12. Puis Eisner 2, Tirosh 2, Saar 8, Vaturi, H. Karsh 3. Coach : Sharon Drucker.
