As with Victor Wembanyama's team, Marine Johannès and her teammates are leaving the 2024 Olympic Games with a silver medal around their necks. A silver medal that was not so far from turning into gold, while the Bleues were very, very close to taking down Team USA, which was nevertheless thought to be even more untouchable among the women than among the men.
It took A'ja Wilson to pull out all the stops in the second half to pull the United States out of the French mess they were in… And by a few centimetres, Gabby Williams could have snatched extra time!
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Gabby Williams
15.5 points at 48% shooting, 4.7 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 27 minutes (6 games)
In the first five of the competition, the Franco-American was also named best defender. As she explained after the final, since her arrival in the French Team, she has sought to change mentalities, by making each training session competitive. So that the Blues aim higher and that nothing seems impossible to them. This frustrating setback against Team USA proves that she succeeded. With her decisive shots, her defense and her leadership, she almost spearheaded the greatest feat in French basketball.
Valerian Ayayi
9.7 points at 43% shooting, 3.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 23 minutes (6 games)
The heart of the Blues. A huge heart to fight against players bigger and heavier than her, like Emma Meesseman in the semi-final. We saw her having trouble walking after the final against the United States, the symbol of a tournament where she left everything on the court, setting the tone defensively while constantly reassuring her young teammates.
Marieme Star anise
7.2 points at 38% shooting, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 26 minutes (6 games)
She was sometimes clumsy in attack but what a defensive showdown. In the final, she made A'ja Wilson, the best player in the world, doubt herself for a long time, and it was perhaps her fourth foul that turned the match for the United States, forcing her to lower the defensive pressure. Jean-Aimé Toupane had made her the basis of his interior defense, with Gaby Williams as his exterior counterpart, and these 2024 Olympic Games proved that he was right.
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Leila Lacan
4.2 points at 54% success, 1.7 assists and 1.0 interceptions in 15 minutes (6 games)
The next generation is coming for the Bleues and Leïla Lacan, at just 20 years old, has clearly demonstrated this. Her appearances have very often brought good things, with the creation of shifts in attack and active hands in defense. We feel that she is still sometimes finding her marks but her talent and her ability to contribute on both sides of the field are already valuable.
Navy Johannes
11.7 points at 35% shooting, 2.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 22 minutes (6 games)
“Super sub” of these Bleues, Marine Johannès had tamed her role as a free electron well, with notably a great performance against Nigeria and a great quarter-final against Germany. The problem is that in the other four matches, she only shot 4/32 from 3-point range. She had the green light from her coach to draw and try to explode the opposing defenses, but she was often forced to force to try to do so.
In his defense, he lacked a pick-and-roll partner, who would have allowed him to vary the threats and keep the defenses on their toes, Dominique Malonga having been little used.
Iliana Rupert
7.6 points at 44% shooting, 3.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 17 minutes (5 games)
Not used in the first match against Canada, the daughter of the late Thierry Rupert quickly got back into it, proving to Jean-Aimé Toupane that she had a role to play in this competition. And she played a real role, especially in the semi-final against Belgium, where her 17 points, 7 rebounds and 3 interceptions did a lot of good for the Blues against Emma Meesseman inside. Unfortunately, it was more complicated for her in the final against the United States.
Janelle Salaün
6.0 points at 54% shooting, 3.0 rebounds and 0.5 assists in 18 minutes (6 games)
A good soldier, the winger did what was asked of her, being active in defense and spreading the play for her teammates in attack. Also scoring baskets at key moments.
Sarah Michel Boury
6.5 points at 24% shooting, 2.2 rebounds and 1.8 steals in 14 minutes (6 games)
Of course, she was clumsy, with a 4/17 over the entire tournament. But the captain often showed the way when she came on as a substitute. With her interceptions and her constant self-denial, she continually relaunched the Blues, when they were starting to take their foot off the accelerator. A true role model, who can leave the Blues in peace.
Alexia Chery
4.7 points at 42% shooting, 2.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 13 minutes (6 games)
Her particular profile, an interior capable of spreading the game, has often done Les Bleues good. Nevertheless, her limitations in terms of mobility have forced Jean-Aimé Toupane to limit her playing time in the last two matches of the competition, against Belgium and the United States.
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Marine Fauthoux
4.2 points at 23% shooting, 1.8 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 14 minutes (6 games)
Like Matthew Strazel in the men's game, the tournament had started badly for Marine Fauthoux. A starter but targeted against Canada, she came off after four minutes and did not return to the game. Generally struggling against physical teams, she finally lost her starting spot, but found playing time again from the semi-final onwards. France needed her offensive contribution. Except that while she scored some incredible 3-pointers, she was generally clumsy, at 3/16 in total over the last two games.
Romane Bernies
1.8 points at 50% success, 1.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 12 minutes (6 games)
Her warrior profile is very useful to Les Bleues, her pressure on the ball carrier slowing down the attack and the opposing team's set-up. This also allowed her to join the starting five at the end of the competition. Not necessarily successfully because she suffered from the defensive changes against Belgium and committed three fouls in the first quarter against Team USA.
Dominique Malonga
2.8 points at 46% shooting, 2.0 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in 7 minutes (4 games)
It was a first acclimatization campaign for Dominique Malonga, the latest nugget of French basketball. At 18, the center had little playing time, not even coming on against Germany and Belgium, even though she had had some good performances in preparation. Promised a big role for Les Bleues in the future, she was nevertheless able to start finding her feet in the group… and pick up an Olympic silver medal in the process.
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Jean-Aimé Toupane and his staff
There were many doubts about Jean-Aimé Toupane when he took office, even internally. Demanding and meticulous, would the coach succeed in getting the players to adhere to his philosophy? The beginnings were a little chaotic but things finally took off. By focusing on defense, the Bleues found an identity, imposing a physical fight on their opponents, illustrated by a huge number of interceptions. Of course, the attack sometimes coughed but this team was only a few centimeters away from a monumental feat!
