FRA – French warming up for big summer as hosts of FIBA U17 event

BOURGES (FIBA U17 World Championship for Women) - France have reduced a group of 20 players to 16 at their training camp in Bourges ahead of the FIBA U17 World Championship for Women.

The 16 players will take part in a warm-up tournament from June 10-12 in Fougères and play Mali, Turkey and Belgium - three other sides that will be at the U17 World Championship.

France will then have a stage of preparations at l’Insep in Paris from June 19-24 with Sweden also working out.

From there, the French will travel to Banja Koviljaca and face hosts Serbia in three games on June 25, 26 and 27.

Following will be further preparations and a tournament in Rodez from July 3-12.

China, Argentina and Turkey will each have sides taking part in the tournament.

The last preparations for France will be in Rodez.

The FIBA U17 World Championship will be held in France from July 16 to 25

In the preliminary round, France will open against the United States and then face Turkey, Russia, Japan and Canada.

Arnaud Guppillotte is coaching the team, and he has Julien Egloff and Cathy Melain as his assistants.

Melain was this time last summer preparing for the EuroBasket Women in Latvia.

The veteran helped France win the gold medal - her second with the national team - before retiring for a second time.

France's 16-strong squad in Bourges: Justine Barthelemy, Romane Bernie, Sara Chevaugeon, Jodie Cornelis, Lola De Angelis, Christelle Diallo, Rudiane Eduardo, Olivia Epoupa, Margaux Galliou-Loko, Anaëlle Le Bruchec, Marie Bernadette Mbuyamba-Tshimanga, Laura Mercier, Alice Nayo, Esther Niamke, Carolina Plust and Claire Stievenard

FIBA