Veteran WNBA guard is going off in the FIBA World Cup

Berlin, Germany – September 7: Marine Johannes, the 31-year-old New York Liberty guard, has been a cornerstone of the French national team for over a decade. As a veteran on the roster, Johannes is now a key player for a dominant France squad. Although she is no longer the star of the team — Gabby Williams is the top scorer — Johannes remains vital, averaging 17 points in each of France's three Group Play games.

In Thursday’s quarterfinals win against China, Johannes scored a team-high 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting, along with 7 assists and 3 rebounds. Through the first four games of the World Cup, Johannes has improved her shooting efficiency, with a 54% field goal percentage and 48.5% from three-point range, compared to her current WNBA averages of 42% and 38.9%, respectively.

For the Liberty, Johannes averages 8.5 points, 2.4 assists, and 2.1 rebounds, shooting 42% from the field and 38.9% from three. In New York, she plays 20.8 minutes per game and starts nearly half (18) of the 37 games. Marine Johannes emphasizes the team's collective effort, with Gabby Williams leading in scoring, and numerous other players contributing significantly.

However, Johannes becomes an even more critical player for France as the team's second-leading scorer and primary sharpshooter. During the 2024 Paris Olympics, she was the team's leading scorer, averaging 11.7 points per game, but her shooting efficiency was lower than her current performance. Next, France will face the winner of Belgium vs. Germany in the semifinal game on Saturday.

France's success depends on all players performing at their best, but Johannes is undoubtedly one of the team's most important factors, and her strong showing is a positive sign.