Crowd at Colonial Life Arena erupted with a standing ovation when Alicia Tournebize checked in during the first quarter of No. 2 South Carolina’ Gamecocks’ 68-65 revenge win over No. 4 Texas Longhorns on January 15.
The 6’7″ French freshman’s debut may have lasted just five minutes, but the energy was on point. Fans on social media are very much sure that she is the legitimate dunker in women’s college basketball, and other SEC teams must consider her as a terror.
Fans Calling Alicia Tournebize a Gamecocks Star
Tournebize became the first French woman to dunk in an official game when she threw one down in September 2024 for Espoirs de Bourges in France’s fourth division. But now Dawn Staley’s roster has gotten deeper with her, who brings legit rim quality in women’s hoops.
Tournebize played five minutes and did not score, picking up two quick fouls, but folks think she is getting adjusted to the college basketball system. With her in the roster, the Gamecocks secured their 11th straight victory this season.
Just to recap, she first went viral at the 2025 U18 EuroBasket bronze medal game. Early in the fourth quarter against Belgium, Tournebize forced a turnover and rose up for a two-handed dunk that turned heads across international basketball.
For the unversed, she also holds a basketball bloodline, as her mother, Isabelle Fijalkowski, played college ball at Colorado before getting drafted by the Cleveland Rockers in 1997. The decorated French icon won two EuroLeague titles and five French league championships and is a member of multiple halls of fame.
Fans couldn’t contain their excitement after watching the French icon’s debut unfold.
One fan wrote, “insane debut.”
Another claimed, “we’re in a new era of women’s basketball.”
A third added, “This is exciting seeing this woman Hooper get ready for her debut! Dunk the basketball.”
The fourth fan penned, “A 6’7 freshman who actually dunks in traffic? Dawn Staley really just broke the game with this one. Seeing her throw it down in Columbia is going to be a movie. The rim is officially in danger.”
A sixth one claimed, “The IQ and touch are clearly in the DNA. She’s not just a dunker; she’s a professional who’s already played EuroLeague minutes. Scary hours for the SEC.”
So, the league just got more dangerous. As the daughter of a French legend, her versatile skills — combining elite athleticism with shooting accuracy — position her as a transformative talent for the almost undefeated Gamecocks in women’s college basketball.
