{"id":46215,"date":"2026-08-15T07:45:39","date_gmt":"2026-08-15T02:45:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=46215"},"modified":"2026-08-15T07:45:39","modified_gmt":"2026-08-15T02:45:39","slug":"dominique-malonga-issues-team-usa-challenge-sue-bird-cannot-afford-to-ignore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=46215","title":{"rendered":"Dominique Malonga issues Team USA challenge Sue Bird cannot afford to ignore"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div on-document:qinit=\"q-DXdLerjQ.js#_hW[0]\" q:key=\"QW_9\" q:id=\"69\"><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=6a q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>Nothing says confidence quite like talking to the managing director of USA Basketball on the women&rsquo;s side and saying that your national team will win a gold medal soon. That&rsquo;s exactly what French phenom Dominque Malonga did when she appeared on Sue Bird&rsquo;s podcast <a href=\"https:\/\/m.youtube.com\/watch?v=iL0ajYiV3zk&pp=ugUEEgJlbg%3D%3D\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Bird&rsquo;s Eye View on the August 14 episode<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=6b q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-0\" class=\"mt-[18px] md:mt-0 mb-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6c\">Nothing says confidence quite like talking to the managing director of USA Basketball on the women\u2019s side and saying that your national team will win a gold medal soon. That\u2019s exactly what French phenom Dominque Malonga did when she appeared on Sue Bird\u2019s podcast <a href=\"https:\/\/m.youtube.com\/watch?v=iL0ajYiV3zk&amp;pp=ugUEEgJlbg%3D%3D\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Bird\u2019s Eye View on the August 14 episode<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=6d q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>&ldquo;Historically, the French national team has been good, but we&rsquo;re always like second place, third place. We really want to go get that gold medal,&rdquo; Malonga said. &ldquo;And I feel like this generation that&rsquo;s here, it&rsquo;s really the one that can bring it. So, the ambitions are high, and I think we&rsquo;re just really able to bring that home.&rdquo;<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=6e q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-1\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6f\">\u201cHistorically, the French national team has been good, but we\u2019re always like second place, third place. We really want to go get that gold medal,\u201d Malonga said. \u201cAnd I feel like this generation that\u2019s here, it\u2019s really the one that can bring it. So, the ambitions are high, and I think we\u2019re just really able to bring that home.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=6g q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>The last time the US didn&rsquo;t win gold at the World Cup was in 2006 when Australia took the crown and Team USA finished third. Still, no team has won more gold medals than the US. Team USA also hasn&rsquo;t lost out on a gold medal at the Olympics since 2004 and has dominated that competition as well. When it comes to basketball, the US has always consistently had the best talent in the world.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=6h q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-2\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6i\">The last time the US didn\u2019t win gold at the World Cup was in 2006 when Australia took the crown and Team USA finished third. Still, no team has won more gold medals than the US. Team USA also hasn\u2019t lost out on a gold medal at the Olympics since 2004 and has dominated that competition as well. When it comes to basketball, the US has always consistently had the best talent in the world.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=6j q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>Nevertheless, Malonga&rsquo;s take isn&rsquo;t delusional at all. France is coming for the US. The French national team finished with silver medals at the 2020 and 2024 Olympics, but was just one point away from the gold medal. Their talent is only continuing to get better.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=6k q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-3\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6l\">Nevertheless, Malonga\u2019s take isn\u2019t delusional at all. France is coming for the US. The French national team finished with silver medals at the 2020 and 2024 Olympics, but was just one point away from the gold medal. Their talent is only continuing to get better.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=6m q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>Putting together a national team is always difficult because there just isn&rsquo;t enough room for all the talent in the country. With France breathing down the US&rsquo;s neck, Sue Bird faces a ton of pressure with Team USA and cannot afford any missteps&mdash;which <a href=\"https:\/\/highposthoops.com\/most-team-usa-roster-convos-are-ignoring-the-france-shaped-elephant-in-the-room\" target=\"_blank\">explains all the veteran talent<\/a> on the World Cup roster even though many fans were hoping for more young stars, particularly Olivia Miles, to get a shot.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=6n q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-4\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6o\">Putting together a national team is always difficult because there just isn\u2019t enough room for all the talent in the country. With France breathing down the US\u2019s neck, Sue Bird faces a ton of pressure with Team USA and cannot afford any missteps\u2014which <a href=\"https:\/\/highposthoops.com\/most-team-usa-roster-convos-are-ignoring-the-france-shaped-elephant-in-the-room\" target=\"_blank\">explains all the veteran talent<\/a> on the World Cup roster even though many fans were hoping for more young stars, particularly Olivia Miles, to get a shot.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=6p q:key=vcaa:\n\n<h2>France has a scary talent pool<\/h2>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=6q q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"inline-text-5\" class=\"scroll-mt-24 my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6r\">France has a scary talent pool<\/h2>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=6s q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>France hasn&rsquo;t officially announced a twelve-player roster for the World Cup in Berlin yet, but the team will be good no matter who makes it. The talent is insane. Veterans Gabby Williams, Valeriane Ayayi, and Marine Johannes were France&rsquo;s leading scorers in that gold medal game. Williams now has experience as the number-one option on a top-three WNBA team, and Ayayi is gaining experience playing against US stars with the Phoenix Mercury. Moreover, Johannes is a key piece for the New York Liberty.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=6t q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-6\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6u\">France hasn\u2019t officially announced a twelve-player roster for the World Cup in Berlin yet, but the team will be good no matter who makes it. The talent is insane. Veterans Gabby Williams, Valeriane Ayayi, and Marine Johannes were France\u2019s leading scorers in that gold medal game. Williams now has experience as the number-one option on a top-three WNBA team, and Ayayi is gaining experience playing against US stars with the Phoenix Mercury. Moreover, Johannes is a key piece for the New York Liberty.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=6v q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>With Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese, and Aliyah Boston as well as Olivia Miles, Azzi Fudd, and several current college stars waiting to join the mix, the US&rsquo;s pool of national team talent is deep and won&rsquo;t run dry. But France can match that influx of young talent.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=6w q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-7\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6x\">With Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese, and Aliyah Boston as well as Olivia Miles, Azzi Fudd, and several current college stars waiting to join the mix, the US\u2019s pool of national team talent is deep and won\u2019t run dry. But France can match that influx of young talent.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=6y q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>Malonga is already an All-Star in the W at just 20. Janelle Sala&uuml;n is the <a href=\"https:\/\/highposthoops.com\/janelle-salaun-firmly-shutting-door-sophie-cunningham-wnba-award-case\" target=\"_blank\">overwhelming favorite for Sixth Player of the Year<\/a>, and Pauline Astier, Marine Fauthoux, Leila Lacan, Carla Leite, Nell Angloma, and Noemie Brochant are all improving their game in the WNBA. Alicia TournebiZe, meanwhile, is competing with the best college players since joining Dawn Staley&rsquo;s Gamecocks squad.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=6z q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-8\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"70\">Malonga is already an All-Star in the W at just 20. Janelle Sala\u00fcn is the <a href=\"https:\/\/highposthoops.com\/janelle-salaun-firmly-shutting-door-sophie-cunningham-wnba-award-case\" target=\"_blank\">overwhelming favorite for Sixth Player of the Year<\/a>, and Pauline Astier, Marine Fauthoux, Leila Lacan, Carla Leite, Nell Angloma, and Noemie Brochant are all improving their game in the WNBA. Alicia TournebiZe, meanwhile, is competing with the best college players since joining Dawn Staley\u2019s Gamecocks squad.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=71 q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>If any squad will end Team USA&rsquo;s impressive streak of World Cup and Olympic gold medals, it is the French national team.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=72 q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-9\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"73\">If any squad will end Team USA\u2019s impressive streak of World Cup and Olympic gold medals, it is the French national team.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:id=74 q:key=1jXG:QW_7--><!--qv q:id=75 q:key=9yVI:Ef_0--><\/p>\n<div on:click=\"q-PR6RmUkK.js#s_Ytib2zHV0Tc[0 1]\" q:key=\"WY_1\" q:id=\"76\"><!--qv q:s q:sref=75 q:key=--><\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"google-news-widget\" class=\"voltax-google-preferred-source my-5 p-4 flex items-center gap-4 rounded-lg bg-[#F0F0F0]\">\n<div class=\"flex min-w-0 flex-1 items-center gap-3\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.minutemediacdn.com\/platform\/google_discover_icon.svg\" class=\"shrink-0\"\/><span class=\"font-group-big text-black text-[16px]\">Add us as a preferred source on <span class=\"font-bold\">Google<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<p><a aria-label=\"Follow highposthoops.com on Google News\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=highposthoops.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"flex h-[30px] w-[30px] shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-full bg-primary font-group-large text-sm font-medium text-white transition-colors hover:bg-secondary focus:bg-secondary md:w-auto md:gap-2.5 md:px-4 md:py-[5px]\"><span class=\"hidden pt-[1px] leading-[1.4] md:inline\">Follow<\/span><svg viewbox=\"0 0 4 8\" fill=\"none\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"h-[12px] w-[6px] md:h-[8px] md:w-[4px]\"><path d=\"M0.5 0.5L3.5 4L0.5 7.5\" stroke=\"white\" stroke-width=\"1.5\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/div>\n<p><!--\/qv--><\/div>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Nothing says confidence quite like talking to the managing director of USA Basketball on the women\u2019s side and saying that your national team will win a gold medal soon. That\u2019s exactly what French phenom Dominque Malonga did when she appeared on Sue Bird\u2019s podcast Bird\u2019s Eye View on the August 14 episode.\u00a0 \u201cHistorically, the French&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":46216,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_121,y_0,w_3594,h_2021\/c_fill,w_1440,ar_1440:810,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images\/ReutersImages\/mmsport\/403\/01m00b8tb8swqagex0r9.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-46215","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-real-trending-viral-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46215","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=46215"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46215\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/46216"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=46215"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=46215"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=46215"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}