NEWCASTLE (Paul Nilsen’s Women’s Basketball Worldwide) – Every nation goes through occasional transitional periods which are driven by generational cycles.

Sometimes so-called ‘generation gaps’ can hinder even top level nations, but broadly speaking, it is all down to timing when Federations and their coaches decide to turn on the tap and let the new talent flow at senior level.

France still have a delightful dilemma lying in wait during coming months as they think about the balance between the experience they will need to be successful at EuroBasket Women and of course what might be needed to achieve their ultimate dream of going to Rio 2016.

As I referred to prior to the FIBA World Championship for Women, I don’t think Les Bleues were bold enough in their selection and went for an overwhelming ‘vanilla’ option – basically taking safe route.

Having spoken openly about looking to the future, it looked like they ignored this to some extent and now I believe they need to trust the younger players. Although in my opinion, that would have been easier experimenting last year, rather than at the Olympic gateway of Hungary and Romania this year.

Nevertheless, they have the experienced players available who can help with the integration of some very talented options at EuroBasket Women.

I am sure those who select the team and primarily head coach Valerie Garnier, will have had mixed emotions about what has happened since Turkey. Many of the players who were overlooked have come back very strongly and many who were chosen have not exactly set the world alight.

There have also been some new potential names thrust forward and that means some difficult choices ahead.

Keeping Celine Dumerc, Sandrine Gruda, Diandra Tchatchouang, Endene Miyem, Helena Ciak seems to be a no-brainer. Paoline Salagnac and Ana Cata-Chitiga made strong cases for a return after decent major tournament debuts, although maybe the former more than the latter.

There could be question marks against the remaining players and there will be one less spot with Isabelle Yacoubou returning to action after skipping the action in Ankara and Istanbul.

The form of Valeriane Ayayi, the wing star at Montpellier (who was the most controversial omission from the team in Turkey) has been impressive this season and she has shown her skills at the highest level in EuroLeague Women.

France looked impotent on the wings in Turkey in terms of offensive production and she could help solve this. And, if the attitude and mentality is right, she can do a priceless job on the glass too.

Olivia Epoupa, has been an MVP more than once at various youth level tournaments in recent years and could barely do no more to force her way into the reckoning. The strongest candidate in the long-term to take over the playmaking reins from Celine Dumerc, she continues to produce extraordinary displays for Toulouse.

While her diminutive physical stature may pose question marks in the modern game at the international level, her quickness, leaping ability and reading of the game is wholly impressive and I am a huge fan. Bordering on unique, I would certainly hate having to guard her or make plans to do so.

Epoupa and Ayayi look like no-brainers to me to be on the plane. If they aren’t, I don’t see any valid reason other than something not in the public domain.

There are also another couple of interesting candidates who have thrust them into potential inclusion and while their mention may be scoffed at by some people, I believe that Lidija Turcinovic and Sarah Michel are both worth a look.

Truthfully, Turcinovic didn’t quite convince me in the early days as a youth player due to her shooting percentage, but she has won me over as I now understand and appreciate the intangibles she brings – something underlined to me at the FIBA U19 World Championship for Women two years ago. I have watched her develop since that critical point in her young career.

Limited at Montpellier on a deep roster, she has been given the role as captain with Arras and the 20-year-old has thrived on the responsibility, producing her best shooting form and initiating much wiser shot selection. Her arrival at the club has also been central to a magical resurgence by Arras – benefitting from her ‘hard as nails’ mentality to the game and newer mature approach.

Michel meanwhile has really grown with Nantes Basket and her performances both domestically and in EuroCup Women have reached a higher gear this season. With combo guard skills and a willingness to hustle for boards, I think she could be worth considering for sure – even though she has not found a senior slot since leaving the youth scene some seven years ago.

There are other potential nominees for the roster aside from these four names of course, but I think France need to be bold.

They are very lucky, because if they get the balance right and compliment their senior core with two or three new faces (or in the case of Ayayi, a returnee), then I think they can be hugely excited and optimistic for what lies ahead.

But for transition to actually take place – they have to press the necessary launch buttons which will now take young or new players into the senior set-up.

Paul Nilsen

FIBA

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