Villeneuve d'Ascq become first club from France to reach Final in 20 years
MERSIN (Türkiye) - It's probably been long overdue considering the strength and reputation of their domestic league, but French basketball can now celebrate a first EuroLeague Women Finalists in 20 years.
MERSIN (Türkiye) - It's probably been long overdue considering the strength and reputation of their domestic league, but French basketball can now celebrate a first EuroLeague Women Finalists in 20 years.
It has been the Cinderella story of Villeneuve d'Ascq LM that has ended the barren streak after they posted a vibrant 84-78 triumph against ZVVZ USK Praha in Mersin on Friday.
"IT IS AN HONOR TO REPRESENT OUR CLUB AND OUR TOWN, BUT ALSO OUR COUNTRY." - Rachid Meziane
You have to push the rewind button all the way back to 2004 for the last time, when US Valenciennes Olympic were crowned champions. That came two years after they lifted the silverware for the first time and followed on from Bourges Basket winning it all in 1997, 1998 and 2001.
The last time a French team lost in the Final was 2003 when US Valenciennes Olympic lost an epic to UMMC Ekaterinburg, 82-80.
Now Villeneuve d'Ascq LM could return the French flag to the top of the EuroLeague Women podium again, but whatever happens, head coach Rachid Meziane is already happy to have posted a landmark result.
He stated: "Firstly, it is an honor to represent our club and our town, but also our country.
"I really think that the French League deserves every time to have a team in the Final Four because we are one of the strongest leagues in Europe."
"For us it is an honor to play knowing that for 20 years there has been no [French] team in the Final. We have to keep our process, to play 40 minutes, to give our best and we will see. But we are ready to surprise everybody," warned the playcaller.
Who are the French clubs to have reached the Final in the modern era of EuroLeague Women?
| YEAR | TEAM | OPPONENT | RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | US Valenciennes Olympic (FRA) | Lotos VBW Clima (POL) | 93-69 |
| 2003 | US Valenciennes Olympic (FRA) | UMMC Ekaterinburg (RUS) | 80-82 |
| 2002 | US Valenciennes Olympic (FRA) | Lotos VBW Clima (POL) | 78-72 |
| 2001 | CJM Bourges Basket (FRA) | US Valenciennes Olympic (FRA) | 73-71 |
| 2000 | CJM Bourges Basket (FRA) | SCP Ruzomberok (SVK) | 64-67 |
| 1998 | CJM Bourges Basket (FRA) | Pool Getafe (ESP) | 76-64 |
| 1997 | CJM Bourges Basket (FRA) | GoldZack Wuppertal (GER) | 71-52 |
FIBA