France hasn't announced all 12 members of its national team as they prepare to head into the FIBA World Cup next month, but this morning the country did announce the eight WNBA players who will travel back home soon.
The list includes Carla Leite, who is in her second season in the WNBA and absolutely balling out for the Portland Fire. It also includes Leila Lacan (Connecticut Sun), Valériane Ayayi (Phoenix Mercury), Janelle Salaun (Golden State Valkyries), Gabby Williams (Golden State Valkyries), Pauline Astier (New York Liberty), Marine Johannes (New York Liberty), and Dominique Malonga (Seattle Storm).
The eight are expected to leave the United States and arrive in France on different days, but all will be in Germany, where the World Cup will be held, by August 31. The remaining four members of the team will be announced after the French team plays two friendlies against Italy on August 27th and 28th.
The roster is impressive, and it proves one thing that many already knew to be true: the French national team is absolutely hoping to avenge the silver medal they won at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
For years, the United States have been able to easily walk with gold medals at just about every international tournament and competition they've played in. The 2024 Olympics tested that theory, and the Americans just barely edged out the French.
The United States announced its own roster earlier this month. The 12 athletes who will play at the FIBA World Cup are Aliyah Boston (Indiana Fever), Paige Bueckers (Dallas Wings), Caitlin Clark( Indiana Fever), Napheesa Collier( Minnesota Lynx), Kahleah Copper (Phoenix Mercury), Chelsea Gray (Las Vegas Aces), Rhyne Howard (Atlanta Dream), Kelsey Plum (Phoenix Mercury), Angel Reese (Atlanta Dream), Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty), A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces) and Jackie Young (Las Vegas Aces).
Several of those players will be making their debut as senior members of Team USA, while five — Copper, Gray, Plum, Stewart and Wilson — are defending the World Cup banner they won in 2022. And though some fans were mad that Olivia Miles wasn't named to the team, it's worth remembering there's a reason: Miles is fantastic, and likely would prove to be a lethal member on the squad... but the United States needs to offer a healthy mixture of young players and veterans, and more than anything, they need players who know what to expect from the French.
It's one thing to play alongside one another in the WNBA, but quite another to represent different countries. The World Cup will be a lot of fun for WNBA fans and those who love women's basketball, period, and both of these teams are a big part of the reason why.
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