Around the Sun

French Players Find a Home in Connecticut—and the WNBA

By Anthony Price 

Seattle's Dominique Malonga and Connecticut's Mamignan "Migna" Toure talk. Photo: Anthony Price

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​French isn’t just the language–it’s becoming the language of the Connecticut Sun. And if head coach Rachid Meziane has his way, it might soon be the dominant standard for the WNBA. 
 
When Frenchman Meziane accepted the Connecticut Sun job in early December, he had a vision of how he wanted his team to play. The swiftest way to implement his system was to recruit players he knew who already spoke his language, both literally and on the court. 

​He had a head start with French guard Leila Lacan, drafted by the Sun in 2024. But he had to wait. Lacan stayed in France until July. Her arrival coincided with the departure of French-speaking Kariata Diaby, who had played for Rachid in France. 
 
Later that month, Guard Mamignan “Migna” Touré, a rookie in the WNBA but a seasoned pro in Europe since 2012, signed with the Sun. Touré had once played for Meziane, back in 2016. Her signing came as the Sun were struggling, losing games as fast as Tina Charles racks up points. 
 
Adding to the French connection is veteran Haley Peters, who made the roster in May. Though American, Peters played for Meziane in France and is fluent in French, offering both experience and a bridge between cultures. 

For me, their success in the WNBA is not a surprise.

Connecticut Sun Coacn Rachid Meziane. Photo: Anthony Price

​French Talent is Taking Over
 
It is hard to argue with Meziane’s belief in French players. Of the six French players currently in the WNBA–Marième Badiane, Marine Johannès, Leïla Lacan, Carla Leite, Dominique Malonga and Janelle Salaün–several are already making an impact beyond their rookie status. 
 
 “French players are familiar with the professional level,” Meziane said. “They play international games. They play at the best level in Europe. For me, their success in the WNBA is not a surprise.”  
 
One of the most promising is Malonga, a 6-foot-6 center who came up through the French system alongside Lacan. Malonga made headlines as the first woman to dunk in a French professional game. She showed off that skill during the pregame warm-up on July 28. 
 
When asked why French players are succeeding in the league, Malonga’s answer was blunt: “We are just working. We don’t sleep. That’s all I can say.” 
 
The Paris Olympics poured fuel on France’s basketball ambitions. In a dramatic gold medal game, former UConn star Gabby Williams made what looked like a game-changer of a three-pointer with the clock winding down, but with her toe on the line, it was ruled a two. The French team narrowly lost to Team USA, 67-66 and took home the silver medal—it was America’s eighth straight Olympic gold and their 61st consecutive win. 
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The French squad included WNBA talents Valériane Ayayi and Iliana Rupert, further proving that France is producing players who belong on the biggest stage. 

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Speaking English is not that easy.

​A New Addition Finds Her Footing 
 
Before facing the Seattle Storm, Touré reflected on her new chapter in Connecticut. She started with the basics. 
 
“Speaking English is not that easy,”  Touré admitted, “but at the end, it’s the basketball language. It requires some skills to adapt and to be really aware, listening to everything, and be open to a new way to communicate and a new way to organize.”
 
For Touré, joining the WNBA feels like navigating a new city–learning the streets, finding her rhythm. “It’s good because it’s the best way to grow, and I’m happy for that,” she said. 
 
She doesn’t lack confidence. “It’s not a mystery that I’m here. I worked for this for many years,“ Touré said firmly, 
 
In her mind, Gabby Williams, now with the Seattle Storm, is one of the best. “It’s not that easy to be in this league—to excel in this league—and she is doing this. To me, she is one of the best,” Touré beams with pride. 
 
For now, Toure’s goals are simple: Stay ready. Keep her body warm for when her name is called. Bring energy on defense. 

Migna Toure celebrates a win. Photo: Anthony Price

Haley Peters gives a high-five to Migna Toure. Photo: Anthony Price

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​Veteran forward Peters knows the French newcomers well. She played with Touré in Europe. “It’s good to have her here. It’s nice. I think it’s helpful for Leila, too. It just makes Leila more comfortable in the locker room. It’s been good so far,” Peters said.
 
Peters has become a steady resource for the French players. “Whenever she (Touré) or Leila don’t understand something,” Peters said, “they always know that they can come to me. I try to check in with them every now and then just to make sure they are understanding what they are being asked, or what is being explained.” 
 
She’s not surprised at the French wave. “There’s a really deep pool of talent there,” she said. “They are strong, physical, quick, athletic. I think that’s why you see so many French players, who are having successful years in the WNBA. They just have a really good system there.” 
 
Having faced Dominique Malonga in France, Peters knows what’s coming. “She’s obviously a really, really talented young player, and again I think she has gotten a lot better this summer in the WNBA, playing here.” 
 
Her message to the league is simple: “The French national team is going to be good for a while.”

Something that helped me not be scared is that I already played the final in the Olympics, against the best team in the world,

Growing Pains, Glimpses of Greatness
This season has tested Meziane’s vision and his young team. His Connecticut Sun are learning on the fly, with a young core adjusting to the league’s relentless pace. The lessons haven’t always been gentle.
 
He watched the Sun lose to the Storm 101-85, a game in which Molanga scored 12 points. 
But in the very next game, the Sun beat the New York Liberty on Friday night 78-62. Lacan played 23 minutes and scored 15 points. 
 
After the win, Lacan attended the postgame press conference with Marina Mabrey. When asked by a reporter how she does not get overwhelmed playing against the best players in the world, Lacan didn’t hesitate. 
 
“Something that helped me not be scared is that I already played the final in the Olympics, against the best team in the world,” she said calmly. 
 
Mabrey smiled and admired Lacan’s consistency. “Sometimes when you’re a young player, you can come out and have a couple good games, and then it just goes up and down, and you don’t know what to expect,” Mabrey said.  “But when Leila comes out there, I know exactly what to expect. She’s only scratched the surface of something that she can be in this league.”  Leila smiled and thanked Mabrey. 

Boston Bound?
 
The Sun lost again on Sunday, falling 87-78 to the New York Liberty. But the bigger news broke the day before—and it might have been the distraction no one wanted. 
 
In a season full of twists and turns, the Boston Globe reported on Saturday that Steve Pagliuca, a minority owner of the Boston Celtics, has agreed to buy the Connecticut Sun for $325 million. If the league office approves the deal, the Sun will move to Boston in 2027. 
 
The future of the franchise is suddenly in flux. Yet, for players like Leila Lacan, Dominique Malonga, and coach Rachid Meziane, the destination might not matter.
 
If Lacan ends up helping Boston win a championship, Meziane won’t be surprised. He’s seen this story before. He’s writing it again—this time, in French.

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Anthony Price is an entrepreneur, author and publisher of CT Hoops Magazine. Around the Sun is a weekly column about the Connecticut Sun.