AS Monaco Advances to French Cup Final with Win Over Nanterre
Under the guidance of interim head coach Sergiy Gladyr, who took the helm following the reported resignation of Vassilis Spanoulis, AS Monaco faced Nanterre with a notably depleted squad. With only nine professional players available due to recent departures and the absences of Nikola Mirotic and Daniel Theis, the Principality club nonetheless quickly asserted dominance. They established an early lead with scores of 7-13, 17-22, 19-27, 22-32, 31-34, and 39-45. Despite a solid performance from Nanterre's Croatian pivot, Roko Prkacin, who contributed 12 points and 4 rebounds, Monaco maintained its advantage.
The Roca Team further extended their lead at the start of the second half with an impressive 8-0 run, pushing their advantage to 42-61 by the 24th minute. This surge was significantly aided by Alpha Diallo and Nemanja Nedovic, who combined for an excellent 6/8 from beyond the arc. Nanterre, however, staged a spirited comeback, led by Mitchell Puttkammer Saxen's 14 points and 9 rebounds, which saw Monaco's lead reduced to a precarious five points (66-72, 74-80, 79-84). Despite the pressure, the Roca Team held their ground, ultimately securing the victory with six players scoring in double figures and Alpha Diallo delivering an outstanding individual performance with an efficiency rating of 18.
AS Monaco has now earned a place in the French Cup Final, aiming for their second title in the competition, following their victory in 2023. The highly anticipated final is scheduled for Saturday, April 25, at the Accor Arena in Paris-Bercy, where they will face Le Mans. Le Mans is a formidable opponent with a rich history in the tournament, boasting four prior French Cup triumphs (1964, 2004, 2009, 2016). Having already clinched the Leaders Cup, Monaco is now poised for a historic treble this season. The coming weeks will reveal if they possess the necessary endurance and form to maintain their high performance until the very end of the season.
It was also reported that, unfortunately, technical issues prevented the live broadcast of the match on the FFBB YouTube channel and BFM Nice Côte d'Azur.
Full Schedule for the French Cup Finals:
Friday, April 24, 2026
6:00 PM - Women's Trophy Final
8:30 PM - Men's Trophy Final
Saturday, April 25, 2026
10:00 AM - U18 Women's Final
12:45 PM - U18 Men's Final
3:30 PM - Women's Professional Final (Joé Jaunay Trophy): Basket Landes (LBWL) vs Villeneuve d'Ascq (LBWL)
6:30 PM - Men's Professional Final (Robert Busnel Trophy): Le Mans (Betclic Elite) vs Monaco (Betclic Elite)
Fresh materials — Sports News

Pauline Astier Signs with the New York Liberty
The New York Liberty have secured a promising young talent in Pauline Astier, who at just 24 years old, embodies the club's strategy of acquiring skilled players ready to make an immediate impact and grow into cornerstone players within the league. "Pauline Astier is precisely the type of

Marine Johannès, Gabby Williams, and Iliana Rupert Reach Euroleague Final
Fenerbahçe secured their spot in the Euroleague final with a decisive 76-59 victory over Spar Girona, marking their fourth final appearance in five editions. After a slow start, the Turkish team found their offensive rhythm before halftime, establishing a double-digit lead with a 16-5 run that

EuroLeague to Remain 20 Teams Next Season
The EuroLeague basketball championship will continue with its established 20-team structure for the upcoming season. The competition will follow a familiar round-robin format, with each team playing 38 games before advancing to the playoffs. This anticipated decision comes as the league's chief, C

Lauri Markkanen to Play Against France in July
Finnish basketball player Lauri Markkanen has confirmed his participation in upcoming international matches, including a game against France in July. Markkanen, who had a limited NBA season with the Utah Jazz due to a hip injury, sees these games as a crucial opportunity to regain his form and rh

NBA: Darko Rajaković Becomes First European Coach in Playoffs
"So many players, so many coaches from the former Yugoslavia, and especially from Serbia, made this journey possible for me. Without all these successes in the national team, in clubs, and without the individual successes of players and then coaches, I would never have reached where I am," com

Adrian Nelson Renews Contract with JL Bourg After Injury Layoff
Adrian Nelson, who joined JL Bourg in the summer of 2024 from Bamberg, Germany, will continue with the team for the upcoming season. Despite being sidelined for the entire 2025-2026 season due to injury, Nelson showed promise in the 2024-2025 season, averaging 9.4 points and 4.7 rebounds. The