MIES (Switzerland) – FIBA is delighted to announce the publication of La Valise d’Éliane. This comic book opens the door to the remarkable journey of Swiss player Éliane Girod at the first FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in 1953.
Released on March 8 for International Women's Day, this publication is a celebration of the first edition of the FIBA Women’s World Cup. This landmark event took place in Chile in 1953 and laid the foundation for the game we know today. And, as if destiny wished to underline its message, March 7, the first day of the inaugural competition, also happens to be the birthday of Éliane Girod, who would have celebrated 100 years in 2026. A coincidence that makes the occasion feel even more meaningful.
The book is currently available in French only and can be purchased online from multiple retailers or the Livreo-Alphil publishing house website. Click here to order.
La Valise d’Éliane: A true story
Éliane Girod was a Swiss basketball player who played for the iconic team Chêne-Bougeries that claimed 13 consecutive Swiss championships from 1942 to 1954. She was one of the three players from the team who were selected to play the FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 1952 and the inaugural FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in 1953.
70 years later, Éliane’s memories resurfaced like a long-lost treasure. With the support of her daughter, her grandson, and former teammates such as Claudine Clot and Yvonne Cotier, she gathered all the memorabilia from her basketball journey, including a detailed diary that she kept during the World Cup, to donate to the FIBA Foundation.
La Valise D’Éliane pays tribute to all the women who took part in this historical competition, discovering new cultures, facing society challenges, meeting new people, and paving the way for the next generations of players.
Inspired by Éliane Girod's diary, this exciting initiative highlights the efforts of a group of women who travelled to South America and fought against stereotypes at a time when machismo was the norm in society in general, but also in sports.
From Geneva to Paris, Lisbon, Dakar, Rio, and finally Santiago de Chile, their journey reveals a world in transition: post‑war hopes, Cold War tensions, and unforgettable encounters. This tale invites readers to dive deeper into the remarkable story of a courageous woman who doesn't let anything stop her and for whom basketball is a fundamental part of her life.
Behind the scenes
The three-year project was made possible thanks to Éliane, her daughter Corinne Dahan, and her grandson Joachim Dahan, who welcomed FIBA into their home and opened their hearts to share this story.
Throughout the process, several former players and National Federations provided valuable information and testimonies, which highly contributed to the creation of the story.
In an attempt to reconstruct this particular historical context, the FIBA Foundation relied on exceptional documentary material such as official programs, scoresheets, correspondence, and newspapers, covering the history of basketball at that time.
In order to best convey and illustrate this story, the script was written by Jacobo Rivero and illustrated by Raulowsky.
This publication is part of a wider project of the FIBA Foundation named Eliane's Journey: Women in Basketball, aiming to preserve, celebrate, and elevate the rich cultural heritage of the women's game. It highlights the stories, voices, and experiences that shaped the women’s game and explores its impact on society.
Where to get the comic book?
It is now available in several bookstores in Switzerland and France, currently in French only.
It can also be ordered online from various retailers and from the Livreo-Alphil publishing house website.
Click here to order the comic book.
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About the FIBA Foundation
The FIBA Foundation is the social and legacy arm of FIBA that addresses the role of sports, particularly basketball in society, preserving and promoting basketball’s values and its cultural heritage.
FIBA’s cultural heritage is the heart of the FIBA Foundation’s cultural and historical activities. It is one of the driving forces behind the promotion and dissemination of FIBA’s values.