Honestly, if you watched the gold medal game at the Paris Olympics, you saw it. The collective gasp when Gabby Williams hit that shot at the buzzer. It was a matter of inches. Her foot was just barely on the line, turning a potential game-tying three into a two-pointer. The France women's basketball team didn't just compete; they terrified a US dynasty that hadn't been pushed like that in decades.
That 67-66 scoreline wasn't a fluke. It was a warning.
The Identity of "Les Braqueuses"
People call them Les Bleues, but the nickname that actually matters is Les Braqueuses—The Robbers. It's a name they earned back in 2009 after a wild EuroBasket run, and it fits. They play like they’re trying to steal the ball and your confidence at the same time. This isn't the slow, methodical European basketball of the 90s. It’s fast. It’s physical.
French basketball has become a "Made in France" brand of excellence. They’ve built this weirdly perfect pipeline. Kids go to INSEP—the elite national institute outside Paris—and come out as versatile monsters who can switch every screen.
Why the France women's basketball team is different
You’ve got Marine Johannès. She’s basically a walking highlight reel. She takes shots that would get most players benched—one-legged, fading away, three feet behind the line—and she makes them look like art. She’s the "wizard" of the squad, the one who brings that flair.
Then you have Gabby Williams.
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Gabby is the engine. After that Olympic heartbreak, she’s become the face of the team's grit. She’s a two-way force who can lock down a point guard and then go score 15 in a quarter. Watching her lead the floor is intense. There's a specific kind of "toughness" the French media calls la dalle—it’s like a hunger or a grind. This team has it in spades.
The New Guard: Dominique Malonga and the Future
If you haven't heard the name Dominique Malonga yet, you’re about to. She’s 6'6" and moves like a wing. She’s only 20, but she’s already a shot-blocking nightmare.
The depth is honestly a bit ridiculous. Look at the names:
- Janelle Salaun: A versatile forward who just keeps getting better.
- Marine Fauthoux: The point guard who runs the show with a chip on her shoulder.
- Iliana Rupert: A stretch big who can kill you from the perimeter.
- Leila Lacan: The young spark plug who was a top-10 WNBA draft pick for a reason.
They aren't just relying on one star. They have a rotation of 10 players who could probably start for most other national teams. That’s the luxury of the French system.
The "United States of Europe"
Tactically, the France women's basketball team is often described by scouts as the "United States of basketball in Europe." Why? Because they match the athleticism of the Americans. For a long time, the US beat everyone just by being faster and stronger. France is the first team to say, "Okay, we can match that, and we’ll add our own tactical discipline on top."
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Denver Nuggets assistant coach David Adelman even admitted he watches film of the French women to steal plays. Think about that. An NBA coach is looking at Les Bleues for offensive inspiration. They run these creative catch-and-shoot sets that keep defenders in a blender.
What Most People Get Wrong
There's this idea that France is just "the next best team" after the US. That’s a bit of a backhanded compliment.
In reality, the gap is gone.
If you look at the 2025 EuroBasket qualifiers or the upcoming 2026 World Cup cycles, France isn't playing for silver anymore. The mentality has shifted. It’s not about "making it close" against the Americans; it’s about winning the whole thing. The pressure of playing at home in Paris in 2024 could have broken them, but instead, it forged something new.
Real Talk: The WNBA Conflict
One thing that gets fans frustrated is the "French Rule." The French Federation (FFBB) is strict. If you want to play for the national team, you usually have to skip parts of the WNBA season to attend training camps. It sucks for fans who want to see Johannès or Williams in the W all summer, but it’s why the national team is so cohesive. They spend months together. They know exactly where the other person is going to be on a no-look pass.
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It’s a trade-off. We lose some WNBA minutes, but we get the most disciplined national team on the planet.
What to Watch Next
The road to the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup is already heating up. France is hosting one of the qualifying tournaments in Villeurbanne this year. It’s going to be a madhouse.
If you want to follow this team properly, stop just looking at the box scores. Watch how they defend the perimeter. Watch Malonga's development in the paint. This team is built to peak right as we hit the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Next Steps for the Savvy Fan:
- Check the EuroLeague Women standings: Most of these stars play for French clubs like Bourges, ASVEL, or Landes. That’s where the chemistry happens.
- Follow the young guns: Keep an eye on the LFB (the French pro league) stats for Dominique Malonga and Leila Lacan. They are the ones who will be leading the charge in 2026.
- Mark the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers: These games in Villeurbanne aren't just "warm-ups." They are the first real look at how the team has evolved since the Olympic silver.
The France women's basketball team is no longer the underdog. They are the benchmark. And if you aren't paying attention, you're missing the most exciting era of international hoops we've ever seen.