USA WNBA Star Brionna Jones Out with Knee Injury in Euroleague

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In a significant development from the Euroleague, Brianna Jones, a central figure for the USK Praha team and a renowned name in women's basketball, will miss the remainder of the season due to a knee injury. The 30-year-old center, who has been a pivotal part of the Euroleague women's champion team for six seasons, sustained a torn meniscus during a game against Basquet Ostrava. Jones has subsequently returned to the United States for surgery, concluding her European campaign. Despite this setback, she is expected to recover in time for the upcoming WNBA season. Previously, Jones has earned accolades such as the WNBA Most Improved Player in 2021 and Sixth Player of the Year in 2022. After an impressive eight-year tenure with the Connecticut Sun, she shifted to the Atlanta Dream last season, where she averaged 13 points and 7 rebounds per game. Furthermore, her debut with Team USA in 2022 culminated in a gold medal at the FIBA Women's World Cup in Australia.

Moving to France, Gabby Williams and Marine Johannes have been named in the preliminary 24-player national squad in preparation for next month's FIBA Women's World Cup 2026 qualifying tournament. Both players, who had to miss last year’s FIBA Women’s Eurobasket due to undisclosed reasons, played integral roles in the team's silver medal win at the Paris 2024 Olympics. In that event, Williams not only topped the scoring charts but also clinched the title of the tournament's best defensive player. They will be teaming up with all members of the last Eurobasket squad, where France finished fourth under the leadership of forwards Janelle Salon, Valerian Ayai, and center Iliana Rupert. France is set to host one of the four World Cup qualifying tournaments in Lyon Vierban, starting with a game against the Philippines, followed by matches against Colombia, Germany, Nigeria, and Korea. With Nigeria already qualified as the reigning women's Afro basketball champions, France is gunning to secure one of the three remaining spots for the World Cup this September.