inside the liberty Liberty’s Marine Johannès sparked a change for French women’s basketball — now they have Team USA in their sights By Madeline Kenney Published Aug. 29, 2026, 9:00 a.m. ET Marine Johannes of France focuses during warm up before the Women's World Cup 2026 Qualifier between France and Nigeria at the Astroballe in Villeurbanne, France, on March 15, 2026. FIBA via Getty Images Before the WNBA All-Star Game last month in Chicago, Valkyries wing Gabby Williams was asked about the growth of the international game.
She shrugged slightly, looked over at a sunglasses-wearing Breanna Stewart seated to her right and offered a stern warning.
“Yeah, we’re coming,” the soft-spoken Williams said. “We’re coming. See them in Berlin.”
Williams is a member of the French national team that potentially came within an inch of taking down Stewart and the juggernaut that is the U.S. women’s national team at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
