MOUILLERON-LE-CAPTIF (France) - The future is now for France after teenage sensation Dominique Malonga stole the headlines with a brilliant display in the first of two huge victories over Finland.
The host nation tipped off their preparation program ahead of the Olympic Women's Basketball Tournament Paris 2024 by ripping past the Susiladies 129-50 to delight the fans in Vendespace.
Malonga took center stage as she put her name up in lights with a stunning 25-point show. It was even more phenomenal that she went a crazy 12 of 13 from the floor.
Not bad for an 18-year-old who now looks more and more like an absolute lock to step into the roster space vacated by veteran legend Sandrine Gruda.
But Malonga is not the only young gun starring in the paint for France.
She passed the baton to Iliana Rupert for the second game and her teammate who is still only 22-years-old despite plentiful major tournament experience, responded with a fine 18-point haul as France cut down Finland 117-59.
There will of course be more far more testing and challenging preparation games ahead, but the signs are looking seriously good under the basket after this first ruthless salvo.
Meanwhile these first games also led to France trimming its 18-player roster down to 15 ballers for the next phase, with Pauline Astier, Marie Pardon and Ana Tadic no longer in contention for Paris.
FIBA