While the guys are preparing to play a European semi-final, the girls of the French team are preparing for their World Cup in Australia, which will start in six days. First match this noon French time, against the big team of Australia precisely, and defeat for the girls of Jean-Aimé Toupane, not without some positive points to remember.
Without Gaby Williams, Marie Pardon or Marie-Eve Paget, all three left to rest for this match, or Iliana Rupert, who has other fish to fry in the WNBA, the girls of the French team had a lot to do for their first preparation match, only a few days after landing in Australia. Australia precisely, that Les Bleues will face at the opening of the competition in six days, Australia which is still well at the top of the world hierarchy even if it seems less untouchable than in the mid-2010s, at the height of the domination of Lauren Jackson in particular, a Lauren Jackson… back this year to lend a hand to the Boomeuses (it is said?), at the canonical age of 41 years. Be that as it may, after an eventful arrival in Oceania (we tell you about it here), the French had a first opportunity to warm up against a top world team, in front of a room full of kangaroos trained to sing the anthem (we don’t know, we have no image).
Finally ? An encouraging defeat, 92-88, partly due to a third quarter which, decidedly, is not the French specialty in September 2022. Marine Johannes planted 21 at 9/14 shooting, Marieme Badiane had a big first half and finished at 16 points at 6/9 and Marine Fauthoux at 15 units at 3/5 from the parking lot. Lisa Berkani swapped her yoyo for the ball and also found the target from a distance (3/5) and overall it was rather under the circle that the French women suffered, enough to wait impatiently for the arrival of Iliana Rupert. The following ? A match on Sunday against the Japanese, yes, those who had catapulted us during the last Olympic Games, then a scrimmage against the Americans, since the world should not attend Migna Touré’s recital against Team USA.
Come on ladies, we’re slowly gaining momentum, and we show up on the 22nd with drool on our lips to shock the Australian host.