France women's basketball team to prepare for World Cup in unexpected secrecy
The French women's basketball team announced 14 players to start training on August 19 for the World Cup, but most WNBA players will join later. This summer's preparation is marked by closed-door friendlies and secrecy.
The French women's national basketball team management named 14 players on Monday, July 27, to begin preparations for the World Cup at the INSEP base in Paris on August 19. The tournament will take place from September 4 to 13 in Berlin, Germany. European teams are starting their preparations relatively late this summer due to a record number of Europeans playing in the 30th season of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).
France has 11 players in the WNBA: Marine Johannès, Pauline Astier, Marine Fauthoux (New York Liberty), Gabby Williams, Janelle Salaün, Iliana Rupert (Valkyries), Dominique Malonga (Storm), Valériane Ayayi, Noémie Brochard (Mercury), Nella Angloma, Leila Lacan (Sun), and Carla Leite (Fire). However, only one WNBA player will initially attend the training camp – Marine Fauthoux, who has a development player status with the New York Liberty, limiting her number of games.
Among the 14 called-up players are Ainhoa Risacher and Camille Droguet (colleagues of Aleksa Gulbe), Maeva Djaldi-Tabdi (study partner of Digna Strautmane), and Marième Badiane (teammate of Kitija Laksa). The extended French candidate list, published on July 7, includes 32 players.
France typically holds friendly and qualification games in various cities and regions, but this summer will be an exception. "Les Bleues" will face Italy twice on August 27 and 28 at the INSEB base, and will play a closed-door game against China on September 1 in Berlin.
