Women's Basketball | August 20, 2019

Normandy, France- The Western Michigan women's basketball arrived in Paris for their France 2019 trip on August 18, heading to Bayeux by bus after an eight-hour flight to the capital city. 

"We have had two really incredible days to start this trip," Head Coach Shane Clipfell said. For our team and staff to have the privilege of experiencing the French culture as well as the enormity of what happened on these beaches on June 6, 1944 is very humbling and awe-inspiring. From the French cuisine, architecture, and hospitality we have been made to feel very welcomed. As much as we look forward to the basketball portion that begins tomorrow we have plenty more sights, sounds, and world history to soak up in the coming days."

After arriving in Bayeux on Sunday, the Broncos embarked on a guided tour of the city with Sport Tours International before having their first team dinner of the trip. They took a visit to the Bayeux Tapestry Museum, saw the Bayeux Cathedral, and were given time to explore the city on their own.

This morning the team began their day of World War II historical sightseeing at Utah Beach, visiting the museum there and local memorials along the way. After making a stop at the Point du Hoc to explore the left-behind remnants of battle along the coast, they finished off at Omaha Beach, visiting the memorial to the D-Day Invasion and the American Cemetery honoring fallen troops from World War II. 

The team departs for the island of Le Mont Saint-Michel tomorrow morning for another guided tour before heading back to Bayeux for their first of three exhibition games this week. The Broncos face local team Douvre la Delivrande at 7 p.m CEST and will host a team dinner and mixer after the contest.