The coronation hour has come this Friday evening at the Palacium in Villeneuve-d’Ascq. At home, the ESBVA-LM basketball players largely won against Basket Landes (114-88), during the return final of the French Women’s Championship. After its success in the first leg, last Friday in Mont-de-Marsan (66-70), the Northern club now sits at the top of France.
This is the second title in the club’s history, after the one acquired in 2017. Last year, the Villeneuvoises narrowly missed being crowned. They lost in the final of the French Championship against Lyon, during the support match.
There was no real match this Friday evening. Rachid Meziane’s players already led by 17 points at the end of the first quarter (35-18) then by 23 points at the break (64-41). The American of the northern club Kamiah Smalls scored 24 points, as did her Croatian teammate Shavonte Zellous. Frenchwoman Janelle Salaün, selected in the extended list for the Olympics, finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
The ESBVA-LM therefore concludes a very high-flying year with a title. Rachid Meziane’s players finished the regular season in first place. He was also voted best coach in the championship. For her part, Kennedy Burke gleaned her second MVP trophy, after that obtained in 2023. The Villeneuvoises however did without her during the playoffs, since the American joined New York in the WNBA.
A month ago, Villeneuve-d’Ascq lost in the Euroleague final, against Valérie Garnier’s Fenerbahçe (106-73). The Northern club has never reached the Final Four of the competition.
