Six French Players Set to Shine in WNBA Playoffs
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Six French basketball players enter the WNBA playoffs starting late September, marking a strong national presence in the postseason.
Golden State Secures Second Seed With French Core
Golden State finished the regular season in second place with 32 wins and 12 losses, trailing only Minnesota, which finished at 33 wins and 11 losses. The Valkyries face the Dallas Wings, who placed seventh with a 27-17 record. The series opens on Sunday in San Francisco with home-court advantage belonging to Golden State.
Three French athletes contribute to the Golden State roster: Gabby Williams, Janelle Salaün, and Aminata Gueye. Gabby Williams enters the postseason carrying significant momentum after a decisive performance in the regular-season finale. During a 76-75 victory over Los Angeles, Williams scored eight points in the final 90 seconds, including two three-point shots that secured the win.
New York Liberty Faces Tough Test Against Minnesota Lynx
The New York Liberty secured a playoff berth with three French players in their lineup: Marine Johannes, Marine Fauthoux, and Pauline Astier. Their opening challenge is demanding, as they face the Minnesota Lynx, the top-ranked team of the regular season with 33 victories across 44 matches.
The opening round features four series played under a best-of-three format starting Sunday, September 27. The matchups pit Minnesota against New York, Golden State against Dallas, Las Vegas against Phoenix, and Atlanta against Indiana. Other French participants who concluded their WNBA regular season campaigns include Dominique Malonga, Carla Leite, Valériane Ayayi, Noémie Brochant, Nell Angloma, Leïla Lacan, Tima Pouye, and Monique Akoa-Makani, who now return to Europe.
Postseason Outlook and International Representation
The reduction from a larger contingent of early-season French players down to six postseason competitors highlights the competitive attrition of the league. As the postseason games tip off, the remaining French competitors carry the country’s representation into the deepest phase of the American professional season.
