Chauray’s Gribi Faces Former Club in Crucial Basketball Match

Montferrand will hold a particular resonance for Iness Gribi when Chauray visits this Saturday, February 21, 2026. The guard, who has played for Roanne, Annemasse, and Brive, will face the club where her basketball journey began. “It feels very strange and very pleasant because that’s where it all started for me,” Gribi said. “I’ll be playing in front of my family, who have rarely been able to see me play at this level.”

Chauray enters the contest seeking their first win in the Nationale 1 Feminine league. As of February 7, 2026, they are 0-12 in Group A standings, placing them 11th. Their recent 61-83 loss to St. Delphin continued a challenging stretch. The team suffered a significant 53-point defeat in the first match against Saumur last year, a result they will be eager to avenge when they host Saumur on March 1, 2025 (as reported prior to today’s date).

Gribi’s arrival at Chauray has been a positive development for the club. She felt undervalued during her time at Annemasse in Nationale 1, where she described a lack of confidence from her coach. “The coach didn’t really believe in me. He didn’t focus much on me,” she explained. “You either had to be ready, or you weren’t.” This experience followed three years in the Roanne center of formation, providing a foundation for her career.

The upcoming game against Montferrand represents a return to familiar territory for Gribi. Having been trained in Auvergne, she is looking forward to playing in front of her family. The opportunity to perform in front of loved ones adds an extra layer of motivation as Chauray strives to turn their season around.

Chauray’s schedule has been demanding. Prior to the Montferrand game, they faced a series of tough opponents, including Martigues (a 69-82 loss on September 27, 2025), St. Delphin (a 113-53 defeat on October 4, 2025), and Montferrand (a 59-81 loss on October 11, 2025). Further setbacks came against Geispolsheim (101-73 on October 25, 2025), Colomiers (58-76 on November 1, 2025), Dijonnais (38-55 on November 8, 2025), Le Poinconnet (81-62 on November 15, 2025), and Limoges (74-62 on November 29, 2025). They also lost to Nord Alsace (46-76 on December 6, 2025) and CFBB II (64-53 on January 10, 2026). More recently, they fell to Martigues (75-57 on January 31, 2026) and St. Delphin (61-83 on February 7, 2026).

Despite the challenging results, Chauray remains focused on improvement. Gribi’s presence is expected to be a key factor in their efforts to secure a victory. The team will need a strong performance from their talented guard, along with a collective effort, to overcome Montferrand and begin to climb the Nationale 1 Feminine standings. The game on February 21st is not just a contest against another team, but a chance for Gribi to reconnect with her roots and for Chauray to demonstrate their potential.

Currently, Nord Alsace leads Group A with an 11-1 record, followed by Geispolsheim at 11-2 and Limoges at 9-3. St. Delphin (9-4), Le Poinconnet (7-5), and Martigues (6-7) occupy the middle positions, while Chauray (0-12) and CFBB II (1-12) are at the bottom of the group. In Group B, Sceaux leads with a 12-1 record, followed by Trith Basket (10-2) and Calais (10-2). The competitive landscape of the Nationale 1 Feminine league highlights the challenges Chauray faces as they strive for success.