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27 September, 2014
05 October
Olivia Epoupa (FRA)
28/08/2014
News
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Garnier makes decisive cuts to Les Bleues list

LIMOGES (FIBA World Championship for Women) – France head coach Valerie Garnier has reduced her candidate list for the FIBA World Championship for Women down to 15 players after making three major cuts on the eve of the team's first preparation competition.

After holding scrimmages against their tournament opponents Angola and Brazil in Limoges, the play-caller has opted to release Valeriane Ayayi, Olivia Epoupa and Johanne Gomis from the camp and end their dreams of going to Turkey next month.

The decision not to pursue with Ayayi is perhaps the most surprising - or at least in the context of a stated desire to build for the future and also against the backdrop of the small forward having broken onto the scene as a teenager at EuroBasket Women 2013.

Epoupa meanwhile will also be disappointed. The diminutive but electrifying and athletic playmaker has been a dominant figure for her country at youth level, regularly scooping MVP and All-Tournament Team recognition.

As a potential understudy to Celine Dumerc and within the stated Les Bleues mission of looking to the future, Epoupa can be rightly frustrated - although it is perhaps still the case of when, rather than if, she eventually makes it to the senior level.

Gomis meanwhile has always been on the fringes of the senior set-up, her one major tournament appearance actually coming at the FIBA World Championship for Women in Czech Republic, four years ago.

"The decision was not easy," reiterated Coach Garnier after reducing her list of contenders.

"These three players have invested in their own right for the team and their individual qualities are undeniable.

"Competition in their position is very strong and exactly one month from the beginning of the World Championship,  it's time to reduce the group.

"We have learned from both scrimmages against Angola and Brazil.

"We still have to move forward and both games in this Limoges Tournament will be very important."

The roster for the meetings with Angola and Brazil is thirteen strong, with star duo Celine Dumerc and Sandrine Gruda ready to join the team after the closure of their WNBA commitments.

FIBA