Bourges announces four recruits, its ambitions and budget for 2025-2026

After a season marked by a first-place finish in the Wonderligue regular season and a strong EuroLeague campaign (Final Six), Bourges fell short in the playoffs and French Cup final. This Monday, president Agnès Saint-Gès and her staff reviewed the season and looked ahead to 2025-2026, discussing recruitment, youth development, and renewed ambitions.

« Of course, we hoped to bring home titles, but we shouldn’t minimize our overall sporting season, » summarized Agnès Saint-Gès to Berry Républicain. The club with 14 French championship titles has officially signed four new players: Monique Akoa-Makani, Maeva Djaldi-Tabdi (both formerly with Charnay), Elodie Naigre (Lattes-Montpellier) and Marie Paule Foppossi (Villeneuve-d’Ascq). The latter has signed for three seasons.

🅕 It’s solid, it’s athletic, it’s explosive… and it’s coming to Prado!

Marie-Paule Fopossi joins Tango Bourges Basket for next season! 😃

👋 Welcome to Berry Marie-Paule! #FiertéTango pic.twitter.com/urEnjpmcrE

— Tango Bourges Basket (@BourgesBasket) May 19, 2025

Two youth academy players, Mathilde Selle (1.90 m, 19 years) and Alicia Tournebize (1.98 m, 17 years), are officially joining the professional squad. The latter, already called up to the French national team, « will take another step forward, » according to Olivier Lafargue, who remains in charge with his entire staff, working with a stable budget of 3.6 million euros.

Currently playing in the WNBA this summer, Kariata Diaby (1.93 m, 29 years) and Monique Akoa-Makani (1.79 m, 24 years) will join the team during preparation. Diaby will be present for the EuroLeague preliminary round (September 17 and 24), while Akoa-Makani will complete her American season first.

Finally, several departures have been confirmed: Pauline Astier is joining Prague, Morgan Green is heading to Mexico, while Ana Maria Filip, Amy Okonkwo, and Artemis Spanou are also leaving Berry.