WUHAN (China) – France have taken care of business in Women's Pool A, completing a perfect 4-0 campaign to book their place in the Quarter-Finals of the FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup 2026. At the center of their unbeaten run has been Eléna Zemoura, who has embraced the intensity of the U23 World Cup while keeping her focus firmly on the next game.
France opened their campaign with a dominant 21-4 victory over the Philippines before overcoming hosts China 21-16. They returned to action on Day 3 with wins over Italy and Egypt, beating Italy 21-9 before closing out the pool phase with a 16-10 victory over Egypt.
Zemoura contributed 14 points across France's first two games and added another 13 points on Day 3. Against Italy, she scored seven points before producing six points, five rebounds and six highlights against Egypt. She currently leads the Women's Tournament in total player value with 42.9.
For Zemoura, though, France's success has been built on much more than individual performances.
"I think my team creates a lot of movement and puts big intensity, so we try to give our best every time," she said. "We have a lot of fun, and we try to give everything every time, so that's our identity."
That identity was on full display against Italy, where France overcame difficult conditions after rain affected their warm-up before establishing themselves defensively.
"The warm-up was very special because of the rain," Zemoura said. "But we started very good with a lot of intensity in defense, so I think that gave us a lot of confidence for the rest of the game."
Zemoura describes herself as a "warrior" on the court, emphasizing the versatility she can bring to France.
"I give my life on the court," she said. "I can shoot, I can drive, and I can post because I'm tall. So yeah, I try to do my best and always put a big defense because it's our identity."
France's perfect pool phase also marks an important step for a team that reached the Final last year before falling to the Netherlands. Zemoura isn't looking too far ahead, however.
"This year we just take game by game, step by step," she said. "We did three steps, and we have the fourth one just after. So we don't think about the future. We do step by step, and that's it."
The next step is now set. France will face Latvia in the Quarter-Finals on Day 5, and Zemoura will look to continue making a major impact on the floor.
Stay Connected
Follow all the latest action from the FIBA 3x3 Cups tournaments throughout the 2026 season by visiting the official FIBA 3x3 website, where you can find the latest news, star players and everything you need to know. Fans can also keep track of the Event Calendar and the latest FIBA 3x3 Individual and Federation Rankings as teams and players continue their push toward the season finale.
Want to learn more about 3x3 basketball? Explore the official FIBA 3x3 Rules to understand the unique fast-paced format of the game, or discover the FIBA 3x3 Competition Structure to see how the discipline’s global pathway connects grassroots events, professional tours and world-class international competitions.
FIBA