PARIS (France) - Some of the most exciting young ballers in the global game will be ready to shine and breakout at the Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris 2024.
With deep-rooted connections to the FIBA youth game, these rising stars have cut their teeth on performing to a high level at U17 and U19 FIBA Basketball World Cups and in some cases, Continental events too.
Focusing on players born on or after 2002 who are stepping out in Paris, this group are about to be thrust onto one of the biggest global stages of all.
Dominique Malonga - France
Center
Date of Birth: November 16, 2005
Height: 1.98m (6ft 6in)
Once described as the "female version of Victor Wembanyama" by Tony Parker, Malonga could barely have had a tougher name to try and live up to. She then claimed a double-double at the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 to move even more onto the radar. Having already balled at the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2024 in Xi'An, an Olympic debut is incoming where she can show everyone her amazing talent.
Super in preparation, the towering teenager is making incredible strides in her development. Her extraordinary length, athleticism and sheer size catches the eye, while her dunking and blocking exploits have been well reported. Malonga has got skills and everyone will see it as she cements her spot as France's main option in the paint for many years to come.
Isobel Borlase - Australia
GUARD - SMALL FORWARD Date of Birth: September 12, 2004 Height: 1.80m (5ft 11in)
Competing at not just one, but two editions of the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup in 2021 and 2023, Borlase's rise has been considerable in the last 12 months. After impressing at youth level, she was elevated to senior action at the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2024 in Brazil where she confirmed the ability to contribute at senior level.
In recent weeks and months she has excelled in the Opals' preparation games which effectively sealed her roster spot for Paris. Essentially doing her best work from the wing, Borlase is outstanding in transition, is decisive, aggressive and it is that purposeful approach in everything she does which impresses most. It's also why she gets points in the scoreboard.
Cassandre Prosper - Canada
GUARD Date of Birth: June 25, 2005 Height: 1.88m (6ft 2in)
An absolute star at the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup 2022, Prosper made the All-Star Five in Debrecen with a stellar global debut. Playing with an intensity and maturity that impressed senior head Coach Victor Lapena, she was fast-tracked to the FIBA Women's AmeriCup 2023 where she contributed to Canada winning bronze.
A couple of weeks afterwards, she was in the Spanish capital at the U19 Worlds helping to fire up another podium challenge as Canada delivered and Prosper captured another bronze. Now contemplating a first major tournament at the senior global level, she will bring a lot to the table at both ends of the court. Fearless, driven, willing to take responsibility offensively, the 20 minutes per game at AmeriCup tells you how much she is trusted by Coach Lapena.
Leila Lacan - France
GUARD Date of Birth: June 2, 2004 Height: 1.81m (5ft 11in)
Showing her massive potential at the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup 2021, Lacan has been on a vertical trajectory and during the last 12 months has went from strength to strength. She was handed a huge opportunity when she squeezed into the France roster for FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2023 and emerged with a bronze medal for her efforts. Less than a month later she was gaining All-Star Five honors at her second edition of the U19 Worlds.
Super in EuroCup Women with club side Angers, Lacan was WNBA drafted earlier this year and even made the top 10 to underline her rapidly growing profile. Now she is ready to show what she can do on home soil in Paris. A strong combo guard with a real nice passing touch, she is quick, has great court awareness and will not be fazed by the size of the occasion.
Syla Swords - Canada
GUARD Date of Birth: January 28, 2006 Height: 1.82m (6ft 0in)
The youngest player on our list having only just turned 18-years-old earlier this year, Swords will also be the youngest ever baller to represent her country at the event when she steps out for her first Olympics. It runs in the bloodline too, with her father having appeared at the 2000 edition in Sydney.
Very much a team baller rather than racking up huge individual numbers, it was a modest FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 for the guard. But Swords still showed that composed outlook and promise that saw her land at the FIBA Women's AmeriCup 2023 and FIBA U19 Worlds to grab a double bronze and make the All-Second Team in Madrid. She then also played at the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2024 in Sopron.
Jade Melbourne - Australia
GUARD Date of Birth: August 18, 2002 Height: 1.78m (5ft 10in)
The oldest baller on the list, but still falling into our 2002 or later definition of 'young guns' ready to shine, the talented guard is establishing herself nicely with the Opals now. She didn't necessarily come blazing onto the scene when stepping out at the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup 2018, but as the youngest player, she still landed bronze in Minsk.
By 2021 she was a Gems leader at the U19 Worlds. Showing her smarts and maturity, she had the joy of a senior tournament debut at the FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2021. Missing the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 was a blow, but she's back after helping the Opals reach Paris with a nice cameo at the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2024 in Brazil.
FIBA