French Women's Basketball Team Prepares for EuroBasket 2025 Amid Key Player Absences
The French women's basketball team eyes EuroBasket 2025 championship with key players absent for WNBA commitments.
Key Points
- • France's women's basketball team starts EuroBasket 2025 against Turkey today in Greece.
- • Key players Gabby Williams and Marine Johannes are absent due to WNBA commitments.
- • Coach Jean-Aimé Toupane is focusing on a collective offensive strategy and strong defense.
- • Despite missing stars, France is considered a favorite after their silver medal at the 2024 Olympics.
As the French women's basketball team gears up for EuroBasket 2025, which kicks off today in Greece, they remain optimistic despite facing significant challenges due to player absences. Their first match is against Turkey, following a preparatory phase where the team adapted to missing stars such as Gabby Williams and Marine Johannes, both of whom are committed to the WNBA for the season.
Coach Jean-Aimé Toupane is instilling a more collective offensive strategy to compensate for the absence of these key players, particularly focusing on strong interior play. He stated, "We're looking to leverage our depth and talents to fill in the gaps left by our stars." Key players like Marième Badiane and Iliana Rupert, who has shown impressive form averaging 16 points in recent preparation matches, are set to play pivotal roles in the team's structure moving forward.
France, fresh off a silver medal performance at the 2024 Olympics, is still regarded as a favorite to win the tournament. Six members of the Olympic squad remain on the roster, which helps bolster their experience even though some players have only recently joined the preparations after fulfilling WNBA duties. Among the challenges, Toupane noted the need for the squad to harness their established defensive identity, saying, "Our strong defense is what we are known for and will be vital in these matches."
In Group B, the team will also face Greece and Switzerland, with the latter qualifying for the Euro for the first time since 1956. Toupane's clear aim for the team is to secure a title that has eluded them since 2009, emphasizing that they have "every intention to bring home the championship this time."
As the tournament progresses, the French team's mix of seasoned players and emerging talents promises an exciting competition ahead, despite the hurdles posed by player unavailability.