Eight names, one early call
Four days. That is the entire gap between the close of the WNBA season and the opening of the 2026 World Cup, and it explains why the French Basketball Federation refused to sit on this one. On Monday the federation confirmed the eight WNBA players heading to Berlin for the tournament, running from 4 to 13 September: Gabby Williams, Marine Johannes, Dominique Malonga, Leila Lacan, captain Valeriane Ayayi, Janelle Salaun, Carla Leite and Pauline Astier.
The federation put the timing down to “clarity” and to making life easier for the players and the clubs involved. Four members of the expanded 32-player group missed the cut: Nell Angloma, Noemie Brochant, Marine Fauthoux and Tima Pouye.
Try it for $0.99.
No release window, so they land one by one
The NBA hands national teams a 28-day release window. The WNBA has nothing of the sort. Its season does not officially close until 31 August, four days before France open their World Cup.
So the roster will come together in pieces. Gabby Williams of the Golden State Valkyries and Marine Johannes of the New York Liberty are not due in until 29 and 30 August. Malonga will be the last one out of Seattle, touching down in Germany on 31 August with barely enough time to shake off the flight before the tournament tips off.
Euro 2025 still stings
Last summer went badly. Williams, Johannes and Malonga all stayed with their WNBA teams rather than join up with France, and the Euro campaign never recovered from it. Jean-Aime Toupane has a different problem this time, and it is a far better one to have.
France are at INSEP now. Two closed-door warm-up games against Italy are on the schedule this week, and Toupane will name his final 12 once they are done.
Discover the rest of the WNBA news on our mathodds website and app!
in your pocket.
Real-time notifications & alerts
Leave a Reply