Agreed!
Tall doesn’t guarantee ability. And the ability to dunk is the most unimportant factor in evaluating recruits. She has to prove her worth on the court and ii don’t see her proving anything this half/season. I expect her to play only against the Arkansas/Mizzou level of SEC teams.
Nevertheless, it will be fun to watch jet progress. I am more excited that she is the daughter of a coach and former high level player like Dawn.
Today, on Christmas Day, I'm feeling generous, and since I'm a French speaker, it may be easier for me to obtain certain information that could be of interest to you. First, here is the translation of the official statement from her team, Bourges.
Official announcement -
Alicia Tournebize leaves Tango Bourges Basket
Alicia leaves the club after an exemplary progression, marked by daily rigor, a high level of maturity in her game, and a determination that promises a bright future.
It's now official: she left Bourges on December 24. I assume she will be joining South Carolina in early 2026. Here is a brief summary of some information that may be of interest to you. Alicia is currently studying law in France. She is the daughter of Laurent Tournebize and Isabelle Fijalkowski, who were both basketball players, and her aunt Brigitte Tournebize also played. You pointed out that her mother was a coach, but what you should know about her is that she was a great player. Her mother will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2026, along with three other players: Amaya Valdemoro, Elena Delle Donne, and Candace Parker (see attachment).
Like Azzi Fudd, who wears the same #35 as her mother, the same applies to Alicia, who wears #13, which her mother wore. Her mother played one year (1994-95) in the NCAA with Colorado, 15.7 PPG, FG 59.7%, 6.5 rebounds. In 1997, she played in the first WNBA season with Cleveland, where she spent another year, two seasons with averages of 11.9 and 13.7 PPG, in 1998 in the playoffs, 17.7 PPG.
I agree with you, I don't think she'll get much playing time this year. In Bourges, she had statistics in the French league (LFB) of 2.9 PPG, 1.7 RPG, in about 7 minutes. The team also plays in the Euroleague, which is the most competitive level in Europe, and her stats are similar to those in the French league. By choosing to come and play in America, Alicia is delaying her WNBA draft eligibility by two years. She was born in 2007, so she will be eligible for the 2029 draft. Players must also have completed at least three years of college to be eligible, which means she will play for at least three and a half years. Sara Okeke was born in the same year and could declare after three years, which is the minimum requirement.
The Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame (WBHOF), the sole institution dedicated to women’s basketball, has officially announced its Class of 2026.
www.wnba.com
All detailed statistics, points, assists and rebounds of Tournebize - Tango Bourges Basket from EuroLeague Women 2025-26
www.fiba.basketball
