South Carolina’s Alicia Tournebize Earns Coveted Summons to France’s World Cup Preparation Camp
Gamecock forward Alicia Tournebize has landed a spot among France’s national squad hopefuls, receiving an invitation to the country’s upcoming World Cup training camp — a notable honor that places her firmly on her homeland’s international radar heading into a major summer.
Where and when the buildup begins
Tournebize joins a group of 14 athletes selected for the gathering, which opens August 19 in Paris at INSEP, France’s National Institute of Sport, Expertise, and Performance. That initial stretch wraps up with a pair of behind-closed-doors exhibitions against Italy on August 27 and 28. From there, the squad heads to Germany — this year’s World Cup host nation — for one additional private tune-up against China before the tournament itself tips off, running September 4 through September 13 in Berlin.
A rare distinction, with no promises attached
What sets Tournebize apart from her fellow invitees is twofold: she’s the lone collegiate athlete on the entire roster, and she’ll be the youngest face in camp, edging out the next-youngest by a mere eight days. That said, earning a camp invite carries no guarantee of a roster spot come tournament time. Federations routinely bring in emerging talent like Tournebize specifically to build toward future cycles, understanding that a player this age may not crack the final lineup this time around but stands to benefit enormously from the exposure regardless.
A track record built on the international stage
This isn’t unfamiliar territory for the young forward. Back in 2024, she suited up at the U17 Women’s World Cup, contributing 3.3 points and 1.8 boards per contest. Her production climbed considerably last summer at the U18 EuroBasket, where she posted 12.1 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists per outing — numbers that reflect real growth in both scoring punch and rebounding presence.
That EuroBasket run proved especially memorable. Tournebize powered France to a bronze-medal finish and earned a place on the tournament’s All-Star Five, while also becoming an internet sensation thanks to a highlight-reel two-handed slam.
Her freshman debut in Columbia
Domestically, Tournebize arrived at South Carolina on January 1 and debuted just two weeks later in a matchup against Texas. Across 20 appearances during her opening season, she averaged 4.0 points and 3.4 rebounds while logging 12.5 minutes a night — modest counting numbers befitting a mid-year addition still adjusting to college competition, but numbers that stand in useful contrast to her far more prolific international output.
A clean sweep for South Carolina’s sophomore class
Tournebize’s selection completes something noteworthy for the Gamecocks: every one of the program’s incoming sophomores has now received an invitation from their respective senior national squad. Agot Makeer took part in Canada’s June national team gathering but didn’t return for the follow-up session in July. Ayla McDowell, meanwhile, was slated to touch down in Campinas, Brazil, this past Monday to begin training with a Brazilian side gearing up for the South America Qualifier tournament, set for August 3-9.
Long odds, but valuable exposure regardless
Realistically, none of the three Gamecocks should be considered favorites to crack their nation’s final senior roster. Established professionals — WNBA standouts Bridget Carleton (Canada), Kamilla Cardoso (Brazil) and Gabby Williams (France) among them — remain sidelined from these preparatory camps for now, but are expected to join their respective squads once the marquee competitions actually begin. Still, for South Carolina’s rising sophomores, simply sharing a locker room and practice court with that caliber of talent represents an invaluable developmental opportunity, regardless of whether any of them ultimately suits up when the games matter most.
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