The Monaco Basket Association (MBA) has launched its 2025–2026 season with a clear objective: to reach France’s top division of women’s basketball, the Boulangère Wonderligue, within three years. The announcement follows the club’s recent promotion to Ligue Féminine 2 (LF2), marking a key step in its broader development plan.
The club’s leadership now includes Stéphane Valeri, President-Delegate of Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer (SBM), who joins MBA founder Éric Elena as co-president. SBM, a major sponsor since 2024, is expanding its role through increased financial and operational support, including access to sports infrastructure.
“We share the ambition of building a strong women’s club for Monaco,” Valeri said at a press conference on Monday. “Our commitment is long-term, and the objective is the Wonderligue.”
The MBA was founded in 2009 and has grown into a recognized program for women’s basketball in Monaco. Beyond its senior team, the club oversees nine teams with over 150 registered players, starting from age five. In 2017, the club won both a national championship and a Coupe de France title. It reached LF2 previously in 2022 before regaining that level in 2025.
The 2025–2026 roster features seven new players, including Italian internationals Martina Bestagno and Sara Crudo. The team is led by new head coach Petros Prekas, supported by assistant coach Efstratios Nianos and physical trainer Thibaud Pinson. Lysa Millavet, a 1.86-meter power forward, has been named team captain.
This season, the MBA aims to secure a position in the upper half of the LF2 standings. The leadership has made clear that promotion to the top tier remains the medium-term goal.
Valeri framed the project as part of a broader effort to promote women’s sports and professional equality in Monaco. “Women’s sport still does not receive the place it deserves in Europe,” he said. “It is necessary to support female performance in all areas, including sport.”
Home games will be played at the Salle Gaston Médecin. The club expects increased visibility and attendance as it advances toward its objectives.
The Monaco Basket Association’s strategy reflects a coordinated effort between private sponsorship, institutional support, and athletic development. Its leadership maintains that the current trajectory is sustainable and aligned with the long-term ambitions of both the club and the Principality.