A French Guard in Columbia
Justine Loubens, a 19‑year‑old guard from France, has arrived in Columbia to take part in offseason workouts with the University of South Carolina’s women’s basketball program, joining head coach Dawn Staley’s squad as it prepares for the upcoming 2026‑27 campaign.
During her most recent season with La Roche Vendee, Loubens averaged 6.5 points and 2.5 rebounds while shooting an impressive 63.9 % from the field, a statistic that has drawn praise from Staley, who described her as one of the best shooters emerging from French basketball.
Her arrival marks the second French player on the 2026‑27 roster, following the signing of Alicia Tournebize in April, and places her among a small but growing lineage of French talent in the program’s history, which includes Wilka Montout and Alicia Tournebize.
Program History and Future Prospects
Beyond club play, Loubens has represented France at multiple youth levels, most recently on the national team that captured the 2025 FIBA U18 EuroBasket, where she posted an average of 11.3 points per game, and she previously teamed with Tournebize at the 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup.
Jean‑Aimé Toupane, head coach of the French National Team, traveled to South Carolina to observe her development firsthand, underscoring the mutual interest between the program and the player as she looks to translate her shooting prowess into the highly competitive SEC environment.