For European women's basketball, the WNBA's rise comes at a cost
In recent years, the French women's national basketball team has come close to returning to glory. Crowned European champions for the second time in 2009, Les Bleues have since regularly made the podium, but never managed to reclaim the top spot. After securing silver at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, they're approaching the upcoming continental challenge – held from June 18 to 29 in Italy, Greece, the Czech Republic and Germany – with ambition. "We are in search of the most beautiful medal," said Jacques Commères, deputy technical director of the French Basketball Federation (FFBB), ahead of the tournament.
However, that goal may need to be tempered due to the absence of several key players from the squad, who are also committed to their respective WNBA teams simultaneously. The American women's basketball league season began in May and runs through October, a period usually reserved for events governed by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), such as EuroBasket.
"There's a real problem with the calendars, and the players are paying the price," said Les Bleues captain Valériane Ayayi during a press conference in early June. The forward knows the situation well, having played in 2015 with the San Antonio Stars (now known as the Las Vegas Aces).
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