Sometimes, the on-court rivalries are much smaller than the off-court respect that the players get. While the entire women’s basketball realm is busy with the new CBA deal, there is another interesting story developing at the FIBA World Cup qualifiers. With Team USA already qualified, they came to the tournament to sharpen their skills.
And as Team USA will return home undefeated and with strong team chemistry, another team that can pose a threat to the likes of Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers ended their campaign on a high note. So much so that despite France dominating South Korea, the likes of Gabby Williams and Marine Johannes got special treatment.
South Korean Team Is A Big Fan Of Marine Johannes And Gabby Williams
France played their usual game to thwart the South Korean danger. Outperforming the team both defensively and offensively, the French team won 89-62 to conclude their FIBA World Cup qualifying campaign on a high.
However, in a heartwarming moment caught on camera, the South Korean team could be seen waiting for the French players. As they waited patiently for the likes of Johannes and Williams to arrive, none of the players had a hint of frustration on their faces.
💙 The Korean basketball players waited after the game to take a photo with Marine Johannes and Gabby Williams.#ILoveThisGame x @FRABasketball pic.twitter.com/G1OWtrMJxQ
— ʀᴏᴏᴋɪᴇ 👻 (@CoachRookie) March 19, 2026
Ultimately, as the French team arrived, the South Korean athletes welcomed them with smiles and requested a picture together. Obliging the request immediately, the French stars posed with them to give them a memory of a lifetime.
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For France, Johannes had a wonderful night. Dropping 24 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and a couple of steals, the French squad established itself as a power to reckon with for Team USA. Meanwhile, despite the crushing defeat, Team South Korea is happy with its performance.
South Korea Will Have Another Chance To Defeat Marine Johannes And Co.
Till the first half, the game was hanging in the balance. With the likes of Choi Yi-Sam and Kang Lee-Seul, the scoreline read 31-32. Sadly, the pride of France took over in the first half, as the game got away from South Korea. But the team has successfully qualified for the FIBA World Cup this year. And they are the second team after the USA to have earned the qualifying rights for the 17th consecutive time.
Feeling proud about the performance, Lee-Seul said after the game, “It was meaningful to play against a strong team like France. Although there were physical limitations as it was the final match, we gained valuable experience by engaging in a seesaw battle against a top-tier team.”
Thus, with things looking promising, fans will wait to see how things pan out in the coming days.