Marine Johannès Bio
Marine Johannès (born 21 January 1995) is a French professional basketball player who plays as a guard for the New York Liberty of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). A native of Lisieux in the Calvados region of France, she is widely recognized for her exceptional ballhandling, creative passing, and smooth shooting ability. Nicknamed “the Wizard”, Johannès has built a respected career across the top European leagues and in the WNBA, while also representing France at the highest levels of international competition.
Standing 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) and playing primarily as a guard, Johannès has earned a reputation as one of the most entertaining playmakers in the women’s game. She has suited up for clubs in France, Turkey, and the United States, and has represented her country at multiple Olympic Games and EuroBasket tournaments.
Early Life and Background
Marine Johannès was born on 21 January 1995 in Lisieux, a town in the Calvados department of Normandy, France. She discovered basketball at the age of eight, joining the local club in nearby Pont-l’Évêque, the same youth program that produced French basketball star Nicolas Batum. Her early years were shaped by the rhythms of small-town French life, where community sport clubs played a central role in developing young talent.
Her potential quickly stood out, and she was noticed by coach Samuel Vallée, who brought her into the youth system of USO Mondeville when she was just twelve years old. At Mondeville, Johannès sharpened her skills against strong competition and developed the creative style that would later define her professional career. This formative period in Normandy laid the foundation for her transition into professional basketball.
Path to Basketball
Johannès made her professional debut with USO Mondeville during the 2011–12 season at only 17 years old, while the club competed in the Ligue Féminine de Basket (LFB), France’s top women’s division. With Mondeville’s youth teams, she won the U17 French League in 2011 and 2012, lifted the U17 French Cup in 2012, and helped her side capture the Youth French League in 2013. These early titles marked her as one of the most promising young guards in the country.
Her breakthrough senior season came in 2015–16, when she averaged 14.2 points and 4.4 assists in roughly 34 minutes per game for Mondeville. That performance drew the attention of bigger French clubs, and in 2016 she signed with Bourges, one of the country’s traditional powers, earning her first opportunity to play in the EuroLeague. The move signaled her transition from promising prospect to established professional.
Marine Johannès Career
Early Career (2011–2016)
During her five seasons with USO Mondeville, Johannès grew from a teenage prospect into a reliable professional. She gained valuable minutes in the LFB and built the confidence to handle the ball against seasoned opponents. Her scoring and assist numbers climbed steadily each year, culminating in her 2015–16 breakout, when she became one of the most productive guards in the French league.
This stretch also included her first taste of European club competition and helped her adjust to the physical and tactical demands of top-level women’s basketball. By the time she departed Mondeville in 2016, Johannès had established herself as a player ready for the biggest stages in French and European basketball.
Bourges Era (2016–2019)
At Bourges, Johannès quickly became a centerpiece of the team. She helped the club win three consecutive French Cup titles in 2017, 2018, and 2019, and captured the French League championship in 2018. Individually, she was twice named to the All-LFB First Team, in 2017–18 and 2018–19, reflecting her growing status among the league’s elite guards.
On the European stage, Bourges reached the EuroLeague quarter-finals in each of her three seasons with the club. During the 2018–19 campaign, Johannès averaged 15.1 points and 4.7 assists in EuroLeague play and was recognized as the Best Guard and Most Entertaining Player of the EuroLeague regular season. Her time at Bourges cemented her reputation as a difference-maker on both ends of the floor.
New York Liberty Era (2019, 2022–2023, 2025–Present)
After going undrafted in the 2017 WNBA draft, Johannès signed with the New York Liberty in 2019. She averaged 7.2 points in about 19 minutes during her rookie WNBA season, highlighted by back-to-back career highs of 21 points against Connecticut and 22 points against Washington. In February 2020, the Liberty announced a multi-year deal with her, though the COVID-19 pandemic forced her to sit out the 2020 season and the 2021 campaign due to overseas commitments.
She returned to the Liberty for the 2022 season, posting a new career high of 23 points against the Seattle Storm on 20 June 2022. In 2023, she re-signed with New York and won the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup championship. Johannès did not play in the 2024 WNBA season to focus on the Paris Olympics, but on 21 March 2025, the Liberty announced her return for the 2025 campaign.
ASVEL and European Success (2019–2024)
In 2019, Johannès signed a three-year contract with Lyon ASVEL, the French League champion owned by former NBA star Tony Parker. Her first season was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, but she was still named to the All-EuroLeague Second Team. During the 2020–21 season, she scored a career-high 38 points against USK Praha and earned another All-EuroLeague Second Team selection.
With ASVEL, Johannès added a EuroCup Women championship in 2023 and was named EuroCup Women Finals MVP that same year. She also reached the LFB finals with ASVEL and was consistently named among the league’s top guards, although the 2021–22 season brought a dip in her shooting percentage. She left ASVEL in 2024 and joined Çukurova Basketbol in Turkey for the 2024–25 season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Johannès is best known for her wizard-like creativity with the ball in her hands. Her combination of vision, pace, and shooting range allows her to operate effectively as both a scorer and a playmaker, and she is widely regarded as one of the most entertaining players in the women’s game. Her ability to change tempo and deliver precise passes has made her a favorite of teammates and a difficult cover for opposing defenses.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the signature moments of her career, Johannès delivered a memorable crossover and three-pointer against American legend Maya Moore during the 2016 Olympic semi-finals. She has also scored a career-high 38 points in EuroLeague play and captured major titles in both the WNBA and European club competition, marking her as a player capable of performing on the biggest stages.
Marine Johannès Career Wins
Marine Johannès has compiled an impressive collection of team and individual titles across European club basketball, the WNBA, and international competition. Her trophy cabinet includes league championships, cup titles, and individual awards that reflect her consistent excellence at the guard position.
WNBA Highlights
Johannès is a WNBA Commissioner’s Cup champion, having won the title with the New York Liberty in 2023. She has signed multiple contracts with the Liberty since 2019 and has produced several high-scoring performances, including a 23-point game against the Seattle Storm in 2022.
European Club Highlights
At Bourges, she won three consecutive French Cup titles (2017, 2018, 2019) and a French League crown in 2018, along with two All-LFB First Team selections. With Lyon ASVEL, she captured the EuroCup Women championship in 2023 and was named EuroCup Women Finals MVP. Across her career in France and Turkey, she has been a regular presence in the All-EuroLeague team discussions.
Marine Johannès Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Marine Johannès grew up in Lisieux in the Calvados region of Normandy and began her basketball journey at the local club in Pont-l’Évêque, the same program that produced NBA player Nicolas Batum. Her early development was supported by her family and by coach Samuel Vallée, who recognized her talent and guided her toward USO Mondeville at a young age.
Personal Life
Johannès is widely known by the nickname “the Wizard,” a reflection of her creative and skillful playing style. She continues to build her career across Europe and the WNBA, balancing club commitments with her role as a senior member of the French national team.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 campaign marks Marine Johannès’ latest chapter with the New York Liberty. On 21 March 2025, the Liberty announced her re-signing for the season, bringing her back into the WNBA after she sat out 2024 to prepare for the Paris Olympics. Her return adds a veteran playmaker and proven shot-creator to a Liberty roster built around championship ambitions.
Internationally, 2025 followed a strong showing at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Johannès and France captured the silver medal after a close 67–66 loss to the United States. Her performances in Paris reinforced her status as a clutch performer in high-pressure moments, and she will look to carry that momentum into the 2025 WNBA season and beyond.
