France Women’s Basketball Team Announces Extended Roster for 2026 World Cup Qualifiers
Marine Johannès and the WNBA players rejoin the French national team.
Photo credit: FIBA
WNBA Stars Make Their Return
From March 11–17, the France (F) women’s national basketball team will gather at the Astroballe to contest a qualifying tournament for the 2026 World Cup. With qualification on the line, head coach Jean-Aimé Toupane is opting for patience, allowing himself time to evaluate profiles and build the most competitive roster possible ahead of this key international window.
Working closely with Director of Performance and National Teams Jacques Commères and Les Bleues’ general manager Céline Dumerc, Toupane unveiled an extended list of 24 players on Friday, February 6. From that group, only 12 will ultimately be selected to represent France in a tournament that will set the tone for the road to the World Championship.
WNBA Stars Make Their Return
Rested in October, the key players of Les Bleues competing in the WNBA make their return to the extended roster, including Gabby Williams, Marine Johannès, Iliana Dossou-Yovo Rupert, Dominique Malonga, Leila Lacan, and Janelle Salaün. They rejoin Valériane Ayayi, Romane Berniès, and Marième Badiane, who already served as leaders in the last rejuvenated selection, which retains some new faces.
The very promising Nell Angloma (1.80m, 19 years old) and Sarah Cissé (1.88m, 19 years old) are once again pre-selected, unlike their former teammates Alicia Tournebize, who is in the middle of her NCAA season, or Aïnhoa Risacher.
Un Groupe France élargi de 24 joueuses pour le Tournoi de Qualification à la Coupe du Monde 2026 🇫🇷
La liste finale sera annoncée le 26 février lors d'une conférence de presse à Villeurbanne 🗞️
🎟️ https://t.co/gHgq1nWtJF#PassionnémentBleu | #FIBAWWC pic.twitter.com/ButxZP7tcS
— Équipes de France de Basket (@FRABasketball) February 6, 2026
In its statement, the French Basketball Federation indicated that the « final list of 12 players selected to participate in the 2026 World Cup Qualification Tournament will be unveiled on Thursday, February 26th, » from the Astroballe where the tournament will be played. Les Bleues will then gather on March 8th, before their first match against the Philippines on Wednesday, March 11th.
Challenging Group Awaits
As hosts of one of the four qualification tournaments, the French team has nevertheless been drawn into the group where they will have the smallest margin for error. Only two tickets will be available for the World Championship in Berlin, instead of three in the other groups. Placed in Group D, the French will face the already qualified Germans and Nigerians (host and African champions respectively), but especially more manageable nations on paper: South Korea, Colombia, and the Philippines to start.
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