Dawn Staley’s Paris Vision Comes True as South Carolina Brings Two French Players Home / sportsearchers.com

Nearly a year ago, South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley shared an exciting vision during a postgame press conference. While discussing the possibility of returning to Paris, she hinted that she wanted a French player on her roster when the team eventually made the trip.

“I hope we have a French player on our roster to take home,” Staley said with a grin.

That wish has become reality in a bigger way than expected. South Carolina is heading to Paris with two French players as the Gamecocks prepare for their season opener against No. 20 Maryland.

Sophomore forward Alicia Tournebize and freshman guard Justine Loubens will represent their home country when No. 1 South Carolina faces Maryland on Monday, November 2, at noon ET on ESPN.

Tournebize joined the Gamecocks midway through last season, while Loubens officially signed with the program in April. Their presence makes the international trip particularly meaningful for Staley, who sees events like Oui Play in Paris as opportunities to introduce young international athletes to the possibilities of American college basketball.

The experience can offer much more than playing the sport. It provides opportunities to receive an education, experience a different culture and compete on one of college basketball’s biggest stages.

“I think that’s exactly what it is,” Staley said. “An opportunity to just showcase what other opportunities are for, especially women, especially women who are growing up in other countries. I think they probably grow up wanting to do pros, there’s an opportunity for them to get an education in the U.S., experience March Madness, experience just life in a different country, and those life experiences are truly great. If we can find another Frenchie, I think it would be great for us and our program.”

Loubens and Tournebize Prepare for a Special Homecoming

Although neither player comes from Paris, the season opener will give both French athletes an opportunity to compete in front of people from their home country.

Tournebize grew up in Vichy, a city located near central France, approximately four to five hours from Paris. Loubens comes from L’Isle-Jourdain in the southern part of the country, around seven to eight hours away by car.

The distance has not diminished the excitement surrounding the occasion. Loubens expects friends and family members to attend the matchup at Adidas Arena, and Tournebize could also enjoy similar support.

For Loubens, the game carries additional significance because it will officially mark her debut in a regular-season college basketball contest. Although she has already appeared in two exhibition games, making her first official appearance for South Carolina in France creates a memorable beginning to her college career.

“It’s pretty cool because it means my first American game is gonna be in France,” Loubens said. “I’m gonna be home, so it’s a first approach, like to be ready to play and show everything.”

Representing French Basketball on an International Stage

Loubens is also looking forward to helping her American teammates experience Paris. She joked about taking on the role of tour guide, although she is equally interested in enjoying the city’s attractions herself.

For Staley, the trip is designed to combine basketball responsibilities with meaningful cultural experiences. The players will have opportunities to connect with their teammates’ families, participate in clinics and explore famous locations, including the Louvre.

“It’s a business trip, but it’s an awesome opportunity for them to experience being in Ali’s and Justine’s home country,” Staley said. “Them getting back and experiencing their family, seeing them play, and also just all the festivities. And it’s a great experience outside the basketball court, doing the clinics and visiting the Louvre, and all those other things that they do really make the trip go.”

Beyond the excitement of returning home, Loubens wants to use the opportunity to demonstrate the qualities that make her style of basketball different.

She recognizes that French and American basketball have some differences, and she hopes to bring her own identity to the court rather than simply imitate the traditional American approach.

“We talk the same basketball, but sometimes French and American basketball are different,” Loubens said. “So I want to show a unique basketball…I want to [show] a different [style] basketball than usual, then American usual. But I’m always keeping the same mindset and stuff. But I want to play my basketball first.”

A Meaningful Opportunity for South Carolina

South Carolina’s trip to Paris represents more than an international season opener. It gives Tournebize and Loubens an opportunity to reconnect with their roots while introducing their teammates to French culture.

For Staley, bringing two French players home fulfills a vision she shared nearly a year ago. It also reinforces her belief that international recruiting can create opportunities that extend far beyond the basketball court.

As the Gamecocks prepare to face Maryland, the French duo will have a special opportunity to represent South Carolina, their home country and the growing connection between international players and college basketball.