A great entry blow: the French women’s basketball team, however handicapped by the absence of many major players, brought down Australia at home, with style, to successfully enter the World Cup on Thursday in Sydney (70-57).
The Bleues assured it, even after the package announced Tuesday of their best offensive weapon, Marine Johannès: they would watch the “Opals”, nickname of the Australian players, eye to eye, feeling capable of beating anyone. They kept their word, carried by an aggressive defense, the capital performance of Gabby Williams (23 points, his record in selection) and helped by the clumsiness of Australia, who had beaten them Friday in preparation (92-88).
The players of Jean-Aimé Toupane are thus already placed for the qualification for the quarter-finals, which could be almost in the pocket in the event of new success Friday against Canada (10 am in France).
Without 50% of the bronze medalist squad at the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo – including in addition to Johannès, Sandrine Gruda, Endy Miyem, Olivier Epoupa, Alix Duchet and Valériane Vukosavljevic – they made the difference in the second period (32-31 at the break). In particular, a symbol, thanks to four points in a row from Migna Touré, the replacement at short notice for Johannès, author of two baskets to give Les Bleues a seven-point lead (50-43).
Williams, after having achieved a first quarter time of fire (12 points), then came out of her box by imitating Touré with also four points in a row (58-50). Then the three-point shot less than 1 min 30 from the end which ensured a victory (70-57) with in the end the biggest gap of the match (13 points). A gap that could count in the end in the event of a tie between several teams. Arrived from the United States – where she was crowned WNBA champion, the day before the match, Iliana Rupert finished with 4 points and 5 rebounds.