Alicia Tournebize: The 17-Year-Old Dunking Phenom Taking Over Women’s Basketball

In a sport where dunking is a rarity, especially on the women’s side, 17-year-old French sensation Alicia Tournebize has sent shockwaves through the basketball world — one jaw-dropping slam at a time.

Last weekend, the 6-foot-4 teenage prodigy threw down a two-handed dunk in a fast break against Belgium that had fans, scouts, and WNBA insiders scrambling to find out more about the girl who might be changing the trajectory of women’s basketball forever.

A Viral Moment — and a Warning Shot to the World

Captured on camera during France’s dominant victory over Belgium at the FIBA U18 Women’s EuroBasket, Alicia Tournebize’s effortless dunk wasn’t just another highlight. It was a cultural moment. The clip spread like wildfire online — racking up millions of views within hours.

Basketball fans couldn’t believe their eyes. Commentators compared her form and elevation to a young Michael Jordan, and fans noted how easily — almost casually — she dunked with both hands, mid-game, under pressure.

And this isn’t a fluke. She’s been dunking for a while now — she just finally did it on camera, in front of the world.

“It’s one thing to dunk in practice. It’s another to do it at 17 years old, against real defense, in international competition, with total control and style.”
— French Basketball Federation scout

Basketball Is in Her Blood — But She Might Be the Best Yet

Tournebize’s rise may seem meteoric, but those close to the game in France knew this was coming.

She comes from basketball royalty. Her mother, Isabelle Fijalkowski, is a five-time champion in the French women’s league and a former standout in the WNBA. Her aunt, Brigitte Tournebize, also played professionally in France.

Yet despite the lineage, Alicia might be the most gifted athlete in the family.

She began playing basketball at age six with JA Vichy, a well-respected French club, and quickly outgrew her age group. By the time she turned 13, she was already turning heads at national youth events.

This year, after rising through the U15 ranks at powerhouse club Tango Bourges, Alicia signed a trainee contract with the senior team, a rare accomplishment for a player still in her teens.

And she’s wasting no time showing she belongs.

The Dunk Heard Around the World

Although Tournebize made headlines last year by becoming the first French woman to record an official in-game dunk (in September 2024), it wasn’t until this year — particularly April 2025 — that video footage of her dunks began surfacing online.

The game against Belgium was different. Not only did it solidify France’s bronze-medal finish at EuroBasket U18, but it also placed Alicia at the center of a global conversation about the future of women’s basketball.

In that game, she logged:

19 points (8-of-12 shooting)

12 rebounds

3 assists

2 blocks

1 steal

But it was the fourth-quarter fast break, where she rose up over a Belgian defender and slammed it home with two hands, that turned her from prospect into phenomenon.

Why Alicia Tournebize Is Different

Let’s be clear: dunking in women’s basketball is extremely rare.

In the entire history of the WNBA, only 37 dunks have been recorded — and 27 of those belong to Brittney Griner alone. The remaining ten are scattered among seven other players. That’s it.

In over two decades of WNBA history, fewer than a dozen women have pulled off what Alicia is doing as a teenager.

She doesn’t just dunk. She dunks with ease. With power. With fluidity. And that’s what has scouts buzzing.

It’s not just her 6’4″ frame. It’s her explosive athleticism, her vertical leap, her court vision, and the fact that she’s still growing — as both a player and a physical specimen.

What This Means for Women’s Basketball

The sport is clearly at an inflection point.

For decades, one of the biggest criticisms (and often, unfair comparisons) between men’s and women’s basketball was the lack of above-the-rim play. Now, with players like Alicia Tournebize, that conversation is rapidly changing.

In many ways, she is what fans have been waiting for — a bridge between the technical brilliance of women’s hoops and the jaw-dropping athleticism that brings highlight reels to life.

She is redefining what’s possible — not just for herself, but for an entire generation of girls watching at home, seeing for the first time that yes, women can dunk too.

The Future Is Wide Open — And the WNBA Is Watching

Though Alicia is still just 17, the whispers among WNBA scouts are growing louder. Some insiders believe she could be the most sought-after international prospect in the next five years — even drawing comparisons to what Victor Wembanyama represented on the men’s side.

Her combination of size, power, speed, and poise is simply unheard of at her age. And unlike many young athletes, Tournebize has been trained, mentored, and developed in one of the best youth systems in Europe.

She has the tools. She has the pedigree. She has the moment.

Now, all that’s left is to see how far she can fly.

Conclusion: Not Just a Dunk — A Statement

Alicia Tournebize’s viral dunk wasn’t just a bucket. It was a declaration — that the future of women’s basketball might look very different than the past.

Faster. Louder. More powerful.

She’s not just playing the game. She’s elevating it.

And with the whole world watching, Alicia Tournebize might just be the face of the next era — where young women don’t just dream of dunking… they do it