Rachid Meziane still open to joining France women’s staff: « France will remain special »
French National Team - Current Connecticut Sun WNBA coach Rachid Meziane reflected in L'Équipe on his challenging first season in the United States. The former Belgium national team coach especially discusses his desire to rejoin the French women's national team staff, which he knows well.
Jul 13, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Connecticut Sun head coach Rachid Meziane during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Sparks at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images
Photo Credit : © Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images
Rachid Meziane, currently head coach of the Connecticut Sun in the WNBA, didn’t hide his attachment to the French women’s national team in an interview with L’Équipe, published in Thursday August 7th’s edition. While experiencing an adjustment season overseas, Valérie Garnier’s former assistant says he’s open to returning to the French team, provided the schedules align. This is a strong statement, as the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics are already on the horizon.
A challenging but educational first WNBA season
As the first French-trained coach to lead a WNBA franchise, Rachid Meziane has discovered this year the daily demands of American professional basketball. Leading a rebuilding Connecticut Sun (5 wins in 28 games), he admits having « hit a wall » while trying to implement a more collective, tactical playing style inspired by European basketball.
« They started by telling me ‘we’re not used to playing like this here.’ I think I managed to convince them that a European style of play could be valuable, » he explains. Despite the losses, he remains convinced of his project: « There isn’t a practice where I don’t hammer home the notion of team first, and togetherness. »
Supported by his president Jennifer Rizzotti, former WNBA coach and champion, Meziane sees himself as a builder. Though surprised by the physical intensity and schedule density – « By the All-Star Game, I had coached the equivalent of a regular season in France » – he stays true to his principles.
Close to Toupane, and ready to return to Team France
While he has coached Bria Hartley, Leïla Lacan and Migna Touré this season, Meziane closely follows French players’ performances in the North American league. He believes they’re ready to shine there, thanks to their experience in professional clubs from a young age. As for the French national team, which he left after being Valérie Garnier’s assistant from 2013 to 2021, he clearly isn’t closing the door on a return.
« I’ve turned down some national team opportunities, but France is and will remain special, » he confides. Aware of the challenge of balancing WNBA and national team duties, he doesn’t rule out future involvement with Team France, possibly as an assistant to Jean-Aimé Toupane, whom he knows well: « Depending on the role and if the opportunity arose, it would be hard to say no. »
This statement comes at a perfect time, as France needs to bounce back after a disappointing EuroBasket 2025 (4th place) and calmly prepare for the next World Cup in 2026.
Gabriel Pantel-Jouve est le fondateur et rédacteur en chef de BeBasket, qu’il anime depuis 2010 (sous le nom de Catch & Shoot). Passé par l’Ecole Publique de Journaliste de Tours, puis deux universités en Amérique du Nord, il a pu développer son expertise sur le basket français, de la Ligue Nationale aux divisions amateurs, durant ces 20 dernières années. En parallèle, il est aussi engagé dans le développement de clubs du côté de Montpellier.
Commentaires