The French national team showed no mercy and closed out the group stage with a perimeter shooting exhibition, setting a new record with a historic 22 three-pointers against Nigeria, achieving a milestone in a Women’s FIBA World Cup game.
The French attempted 40 shots from the three-point line and made 22, for 55% accuracy. To understand the magnitude of the feat, just look at the scoreboard: France reached halftime with 65 points and 14 three-pointers. The game was already practically decided, but the team kept punishing from the perimeter during the second half.
A record that lasted barely three days
Japan, a nation participating in the Women’s World Cup, had set the new benchmark in this edition with 20 three-pointers against Mali, but a few days later the French national team immediately took that mark to another dimension.
The players who set the French record, won 111-56 and had already all but put the game away by halftime, which they reached with 65 points and no fewer than 14 three-pointers.
In such an offensive festival, there were two names that shone especially brightly. Gabby Williams finished with 25 points, while Marine Johannes contributed five three-pointers. The Golden State Valkyries WNBA guard and forward was also one of the standout protagonists from beyond the arc, going six of eight on threes. France ended up placing five players in double figures and dishing out 29 assists.
Williams and Johannes were the standout performers at the start and combined for eight three-pointers in the first half. Then, Migna Touré hit the 21st three-pointer with 5:45 still to play and Dominique Malonga capped it off with the 22nd.
A curious scene: Touré later admitted that she didn’t even know France was chasing the record. The team simply kept shooting and scoring.
The 22 three-pointers are already part of the history of the FIBA Women’s World Cup, but France still has bigger goals. With the group stage over, the challenge now will be to carry that offensive firepower into the decisive rounds.