The French connection powering the 2026 WNBA playoffs

Six French players are on the rosters of 2026 playoff teams, spread across two of the league's eight qualified franchises. Janelle Salaün and Gabby Williams both play for the Golden State Valkyries, while Marine Johannes, Pauline Astier and Marine Fauthoux all wear the jersey of the New York Liberty. Their season-long stat lines show very different roles within their respective rosters, from featured scorer to depth piece off the bench.

Eight teams punch their tickets to the 2026 WNBA playoffs

Heading into the final stretch of the 2026 regular season, the Minnesota Lynx sat atop the league at 32-10, with the Golden State Valkyries close behind at 31-11. The Las Vegas Aces (29-13) and Atlanta Dream (28-14) rounded out the top four, according to standings reported by NBC Sports. The Indiana Fever, New York Liberty, Washington Mystics and Dallas Wings complete the eight-team bracket, all having clinched their spots according to a recap from Threads account Women in Play Sports.

With three games left on the schedule at the time of that report, the exact order of the top two seeds — Minnesota and Golden State — remained unsettled, per NBC Sports.

Golden State Valkyries lean on Janelle Salaün and Gabby Williams

Golden State enters the postseason with two French players in significant roles. Salaün (born September 5, 2001) has appeared in 38 games this season, averaging 12.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 22.3 minutes per outing, while shooting 39.7% from beyond the arc. She took part in the State Farm 3-Point Contest at the 2026 WNBA All-Star festivities on July 24.

Williams has been just as steady, playing 39 games and posting 13.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.6 steals in 23.5 minutes a night. The French international joined Golden State for the 2026 campaign after spending the 2025 season with the Seattle Storm.

A third French name sits on Golden State's roster in Iliana Rupert, listed as active for the 2026 season. Unlike her compatriots, Rupert does not appear in any regular-season stat line this year, meaning she has not logged recorded playing time as Golden State heads into the postseason.

New York Liberty carry three French names on the roster

Across the country, the New York Liberty, WNBA champions in 2024, field the largest French contingent of any 2026 playoff team. Johannes has played 40 games, averaging 8.5 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 20.2 minutes, adding 0.8 steals per contest off New York's rotation.

Astier has logged the most playing time of the three, appearing in 43 games with averages of 9.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists across 23.5 minutes, making her the primary distributor among New York's French players. Fauthoux has seen a more limited role, playing 23 games for 3.4 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 10.6 minutes per appearance, giving the Liberty depth behind their main rotation pieces.

The road to the 2026 WNBA title begins September 27

The regular season wraps up on September 24, and the playoffs tip off three days later on September 27, according to a fan guide published by the Valkyries. With seeding for the top two spots still unresolved entering the final games, both Minnesota and Golden State have something to play for beyond simply clinching a berth already secured.

For Salaün, Williams, Johannes, Astier and Fauthoux, the coming games will determine not just their opponents but the path each franchise takes through the bracket — a path that could put multiple French players on the postseason stage at the same time.