Womens French League

So generally this time of year I would be gearing up for some NBA and the Aussie Leagues but they have been pushed back. The Aussie ladies begin on 12 November and they are going into a 6 week bubble. Only 14 games and then playoffs, the latest they can finish is 20 December. The Aussie men, well they are aiming for late January, early February because they want their teams to play in front of their home fans on their home courts. So with that being said, I started to look into European basketball and where the majority of the girls from the WNBA go to. Most go to Russia (for the big dollars) and Turkey but some quality players do filter into the French league. Certain players like;

Cheyenne Parker (Chicago Sky)
Bridget Carleton (Minnesota Lynx)
Myisha Hines-Allen (Washington Mystics)
Julie Allemand (Indiana Fever)
Marissa Coleman (formerly with the NY Liberty
Valeriane Ayayi (2015 with San Antonio Stars
Evelyn Akhator (spent 2017 with Dallas Wings)
Marinne Johannes (NY Liberty)
Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe (NY Liberty)
Jazmine Jones (NY Liberty)
Kim Mestdagh (Washington Mystics)
Haley Peters (2019 Atlanta Dream)
Ana Dabovic (2015-16  LA Sparks)

And then there are so many European international players as well such as Celine Dumerc (played on season in WNB 2014), Isabelle Yacoubou, Promise Amukamara, Ana Tadic, Elin Eldebrink and  the list goes on. I tried to look into the Turkish and the Russian leagues but their websites are pretty poor where the French ladies is pretty good. The season is already underway with the majority of international players already in the league after having to be in quarantine. 

Looking at the rosters, there is a clear indication that there are some big heavy teams stacked with amazing talent and then there are others who appear to be looking into their futures with some bright new future stars. Either way, I think this league has some very good talent playing and believe that I should cap this league 

I always like to put together my own power rankings for such leagues as these (do it for WNBA and WNBL) to see who has strong rosters. Now its clear that Montpellier want to win the league, here is their roster;

Julie ALLEMAND
Romane BERNIES
Ana DABOVIC
India FARCY
Ana Maria FALIP
Nabala FOFANA
Myisha HINES-ALLEN
Marie-Bernadette MBUYAMBA
Marie-Michelle MILAPIE
Cheyenne PARKER
Dianda TCHATCHOUANG

Ridiculous team on papers. Having 3 WNBA players with Parker, Hines-Allen and Allemand along with other international stars such as Dabovic, and Tchatchouang. Amazing team on paper.

But a very close team who hasn't started their season yet due to their games being postponned is; Tango Bourgest Basket

Their roster is good as well and 8 of their players from last season returned so thats good chemistry. 

Laetitia GUAPO
Pauline ASTIER
Alexia CHARTEREAU
Marissa COLEMAN
Alix DUCHET
Elin ELDEBRINK
Elodie GODIN
Magali MENDY
Sarah MICHEL
Illiana RUPERT
Isabelle YACOUBOU

A few other teams that look good on paper are;

LDLC ASVEL FEMININ (Lyon)
Marieme BADIANE
Sara CHEVAUGEON
Helena CIAK
Aleksandra CRVENDAKIC
Martine FAUTHOUX
Juste JOCYTE
Marinne JOHANNES
Monique MAKANI
Michelle PLOUFFE
Nayo RAINCOCK-EKUNWE
Ingrid TANQUERAY

And

ESB VILLENEUVE D'ASCQ-LM
Lisa BERKANI
Karita DIABY
Djene DIAWARA
Clarince DJALDI-TABDI
Johanne GOMIS
Courtney HURT
Haley Peters
Janelle SALAUN
Zoe WADOUX
Sandra Ygueravide

And finally

BASKET LANDES
Miranda AYIM
Kendra CHERY
Mathilde DOMENGER
Celine DUMERC
Aby GAYE
Marie-Eve PAGET
Katherine PLOUFFE
Ana SUAREZ
Lidija TURCINOVIC
Valeriane AYAYI
Celia CARDENAL
Seehia ABEGA

So with all this being said, this is my rankings based on the players, coaches, experience and PER (performance efficiency rating)

1. Montpeller
2. Tango Bourges Basket
3 (Tied) Basket Landes, LDLC Asvel Feminin (Lyon) and ESB Villeneuve D'Ascq-LM
6. Roche Vendee
7. Flammes Carolo Basket Ardeness
 
Then it appears there is quite a gape between those sides and the remaining
8. Landerneau Bretagne Basket
9. Nantes
10. Charnay Basket Bourgogne
11.Tarbes Gespe Bigorre
12. Saint-Arnaud Hainut Basket 

Another good thing about this league is that the books release the lines 24 hours before the game. Sometimes in the WNBA and WNBL you dont get them so early and have to literally wait a few hours before tip off. 

Now these games obviously due to time zone, are very early for me here in Oz. But I will do my best. 

So 2 games tomorrow are;

Montpellier @ Basket Landes (line is Montpellier -1.5 and 140.5)

Landerneau Bretagne @ Saint-Arnaud Hainut (Saint-Arnaud -1.5 and 138.5). 

As far as I can see, Landerneau are still missing Bridget Carleton as she is still in quarantine and only just left Canada. Once she is in the team, they can only be better.

The big game is Montpellier vs Basket Landes. Great talent on the floor, the total seems low but Montpellier only played their first game the other day and Basket Landes are 2-0. 

Landerneau Basket vs Flammes Carolo Baskets: Over 137.5

This total seems a little low given that both teams should take around 60+ shots which will hopefully see 20 (Per team) of those from the 3 point line. Both teams are slightly over the average shots per game. Both teams are coming off low scoring games with Flammes hitting 72 and Landerneau 67 whilst keeping both their opponents under 60. Both those teams (Saint-Haraud and Tarbes) appear to be pretty weak squads and I think these two teams can dribble over the 140 point mark.

Now at 141. Still a play at this number Aussie?

Hi mate, would definitely shop around if you can. My books here in Oz still show 137.5. Sportsbet, who is owned by Paddy power is showing 137.5. In saying that though, if you can’t get a better number 141 would be ok because I think this game gets around 145-150

This is a sure win. Too bad I can't find a good betting app with the same starting total

that is a shame and I thought you would have more options than me with you being in the UK. Bet365 offered it early as well but I find their app to be painful and very slow at times.?

Actually I have been banned by most betting apps here in UK, as I have cost them money before when we are getting tips from local players in Philippines league. But that was before, been losing a lot in NBA as well haha. Placed my bet during halftime when it was 169.5. I took under. And both of us hit  

 Flammes Carolo @ Montpellier: Over 146.5

Would be very surprised to see these two teams not hit 70+ each in this game. Montpellier were poor against Nantes and both Parker and Hines-Allen struggled with their game. Expect more from them and Flammes haven’t played for almost 10 days so I expect them to be fresh and ready to play

Think we will see that a lot in the league. Postponed games rescheduled. More games tomorrow hopefully

Plenty of games coming up today. A few more games have been postponed due to Covid but it appears that there are at least 4 games. No lines yet though, will cap and see what I can find

Aussie WNBL is coming.will you play something? :D

@hypocrisy69

 Definitely will mate. 

Starts tomorrow and it’s going to be a 5 week, bubble season. Each team plays 14 games and then finals.