Flammes Carolo Crush Brno 101-81 to Reach Women’s EuroLeague Qualifying Final

The Flammes Carolo Basket secured a convincing 101-81 victory over Czech side KP Brno in the EuroLeague Women qualifiers, setting up a battle against Italian Umana Reyer Venezia.

Charleville-Mézières Controls the Paint and Pace

Playing at the Guinguette Arena, the French club handled business against Brno despite carrying a stable roster from the previous season. Head coach Romuald Yernaux navigated the early stages without Noémie Brochant, who remained unavailable due to WNBA commitments with the Phoenix Mercury. Even with the short-handed rotation, Charleville-Mézières established control early, building an initial six-point lead at 17-11. Tiffany Clarke spearheaded the offensive effort, pouring in eight points during the opening six minutes and establishing dominance inside the paint.

Brno Fires Back Before the Halftime Break

While the French side dominated two-point attempts by converting eight of their first 13 close-range shots, Brno countered with aggressive perimeter shooting. The visitors drained five of their eight long-range attempts in the first frame to erase the deficit and knot the score at 22-22. Brno continued to rely on outside accuracy as the game progressed. Forward Sara Puckett led the Czech resistance, finishing the first half with 11 points built entirely on three-point shots while struggling from inside the arc. Charleville-Mézières weathered the perimeter storm, leaning on Clarke’s steady production and new arrival Koi Love, who tallied seven points, eight rebounds, and two blocks by intermission to secure a 47-38 halftime advantage.

The Third-Quarter Surge Breaks the Game Open

Puckett caught fire after the break, scoring 15 points in the third quarter alone to finish with a game-high 26 points for Brno. Despite her scoring outburst, the depth of Charleville-Mézières overwhelmed the visitors. The French squad stabilized their advantage before pulling away as contributors like Vaciana Gomis and Coline Franchelin expanded the floor. By the end of the third period, the scoreboard read 79-60 in favor of the hosts, effectively neutralizing any hopes of a Czech comeback.

Final Stretch and Next Steps Toward the Group Stage

The final ten minutes played out as a formality inside a lively Guinguette Arena, where supporters stood to applaud the team as the lead ballooned to 28 points. The final whistle confirmed a 101-81 triumph, locking in Charleville-Mézières’ spot in the final of the qualifiers. The team now turns its attention to Italy, where they will face Umana Reyer Venezia on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. with a group-stage berth on the line.