SANTA CRUZ DE LA PALMA (Spain) — In a moment that will be replayed for years to come, France's Alicia Tournebize threw down a thunderous two-handed slam dunk in the bronze medal game, sending shockwaves through the basketball world and cementing her place in the sport's history books.
The Dunk Heard Around Europe
It came two minutes into the fourth quarter, with France already cruising to a 61-31 lead over Belgium. Tournebize gathered the ball on the break, took two powerful strides, elevated above the rim, and hammered home a two-handed dunk that brought the entire arena to its feet.
The 18-year-old had already made history earlier in the season. In September, playing for Espoirs de Bourges in France's NF2 league, she became the first French female player to dunk in an official game. She repeated the feat in February for Tango Bourges Basket's U18 squad, but nothing compared to doing it on the international stage.
More Than Just a Dunk
While the dunk rightfully dominated headlines, Tournebize's overall performance in the bronze medal game was equally impressive. She recorded a dominant double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds, showcasing the all-around game that earned her a spot in the tournament's All-Star Five (11.8 points, 8.4 rebounds per game).
France won the bronze medal match convincingly, 72-47, marking their fifth consecutive podium finish at the FIBA U18 Women's EuroBasket — a remarkable run of consistency for the French program.
A Star is Born
At 6'1" with explosive athleticism, court vision, and a competitive fire that burns bright on the biggest stages, Tournebize is the kind of talent that comes along once in a generation. She combines power with finesse, and her ability to dominate games on both ends of the floor suggests her ceiling is extraordinarily high.
With the 2026 edition moving to Stockholm, Tournebize and France will be among the favorites to challenge for gold. If the bronze medal game in La Palma was any indication, she's only just getting started.