The United States women’s basketball team is currently facing off against France in a challenging gold medal match. France is being led by Gabby Williams, the No. 4 overall pick out of UConn in 2018, who is one of their top players at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Despite being drafted by the Chicago Sky, Williams decided to play overseas full-time after the 2022 season.
Williams, who is originally from the United States, is eligible to play for France in the Olympics because her mother, Therese, is from the host country of this year’s Games. She also competed in the Tokyo Olympics, where she won a bronze medal.
The 5-foot-11 forward has been a standout player for France at the Games. Here’s everything you need to know about Williams:
Why is Gabby Williams playing for France?
Williams, a former WNBA player and UConn standout, is able to represent France due to her mother’s nationality. Despite growing up in the United States, Williams is fluent in French, which she shared in an interview with ESPN in 2021.
Selected as the No. 4 overall pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft by the Chicago Sky, Williams now plays for Fenerbahce in Istanbul.
During her time at UConn, Williams was a first-team All-America selection in 2017 and helped lead the team to a Final Four appearance. She was teammates with Napheesa Collier, who is also part of Team USA’s Olympic roster.
This content was originally published on USA TODAY: Why is Gabby Williams playing for France in women’s basketball?
