Marine Johannès finally had her night in New York
Aug 9, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA; New York Liberty guard Marine Johannes (23) tries to drive past Las Vegas Aces guard Ta’Niya Latson (5) during the second half at Barclays Center.
Yes, the Las Vegas Aces were shorthanded. Becky Hammon rested A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young — three players who combine for roughly 57 points per game — citing health and safety concerns on the second night of a back-to-back road trip. That context matters, and it would be dishonest to ignore it. But going 7-for-12 from beyond the arc in 22 minutes off the bench is 7-for-12 from beyond the arc regardless of who is guarding you. Marine Johannès earned this one.
A French guard who had to wait for her moment
The story of Johannès is one of patience. Born in Lisieux, France, she made her name at Tango Bourges Basket before the New York Liberty signed her in March 2019, and she has represented the French national team at the Olympics since a surprise selection for Rio 2016 — she was also part of the roster at the Paris 2024 Games. Her WNBA career has never quite followed a straight line, often interrupted by summers spent with the national team or injuries. Even this season, her path had been bumpy: she went scoreless in multiple games in May, and her last outing before a left ankle injury sidelined her — a 12-point game on July 19 — came on 4-for-11 shooting from deep. She then missed nearly two weeks before returning to the lineup at the end of July.
None of that was visible against Las Vegas. Johannès finished 9-for-14 from the field, matched her best mark of the season with 7 made 3-pointers, and added 3 assists while playing with the kind of shot-creation freedom — pull-up jumpers, step-backs coming off screens — that makes her profile so rare among European guards in the league. The sequence that summed up her night came at the end of the third quarter: a step-back three from nearly 30 feet at the buzzer, pushing New York’s lead to 74-51 and sending Barclays Center into a frenzy.
Teammate Han Xu summed it up best after the game, per the New York Post: “She shot crazy today. I’m so proud of her. I know she’s an amazing player. Everybody knows, she just show herself today.”
A French wave building in New York
Johannès was not the only French player to shine. Marine Fauthoux, recently signed to a long-term extension by the Liberty, dished out 9 assists — a new personal WNBA career-high of her own — while starter Pauline Astier added 6 points. New York’s French contingent is becoming a genuine force within this roster.
With the win, the Liberty improved to 20-13 and extended their winning streak to four games as they push for playoff positioning — under the WNBA’s current format, the top 8 teams overall qualify regardless of conference. As New York enters the stretch run, the question becomes what role Johannès can carve out in a playoff rotation. A guard capable of creating her own shot from deep and providing instant offense off the bench is exactly the kind of weapon that can change a series. Sunday night was a reminder of what she can be when everything clicks.
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