Élodie de Fautereau: Basketball Career, Family, Age, and Her Role in Victor Wembanyama’s Life
Élodie de Fautereau is a former French basketball player and youth coach who is also the mother of NBA star Victor Wembanyama. Long before her son became the first overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, she had established her own basketball career, competing at a high level in Europe before moving into coaching. Born into a family with strong basketball traditions, she helped introduce the sport to her three children. Her story offers a closer look at the athletic background, family environment, and early basketball experiences that contributed to Victor Wembanyama’s development.
Who Is Élodie de Fautereau?
Élodie de Fautereau is a French former basketball player who competed in domestic and European club basketball. She later became involved in coaching young players, including at Entente Le Chesnay Versailles 78 Basket, a club in the Paris region.
She is also the mother of Victor Wembanyama, who plays for the San Antonio Spurs. Her husband, Félix Wembanyama, is a former track-and-field athlete who competed in jumping events.
Unlike many parents of internationally recognized athletes, de Fautereau had substantial experience in her son’s chosen sport before he began playing professionally. Her background as both a player and a coach made basketball a familiar part of the Wembanyama household.
Élodie de Fautereau: Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Élodie de Fautereau |
| Date of birth | August 12, 1971 |
| Age | 55 (as of September 2026) |
| Nationality | French |
| Height | Approximately 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) |
| Profession | Former basketball player and youth coach |
| Former European club | Mosa Jambes |
| European competition | Ronchetti Cup |
| Husband | Félix Wembanyama |
| Children | Ève, Victor, and Oscar Wembanyama |
| Known for | Her basketball career and being Victor Wembanyama’s mother |
Early Life and Basketball Family
Basketball was already part of Élodie de Fautereau’s family before she began her own playing career.
Her father, Michel de Fautereau, played basketball at a high level in France, while her mother, Marie-Christine, was also involved in the sport. Their experience established a family connection to basketball that would eventually extend across three generations.
Growing up in France, Élodie followed the family’s sporting tradition and developed into a competitive basketball player.
That background later became an important part of her children’s upbringing. Rather than encountering basketball solely through school or organized youth programs, they grew up in a household where the sport was part of everyday family life.
Élodie de Fautereau’s Basketball Career
Playing in France and European Competition
Before becoming a coach, de Fautereau played competitive basketball in France, including for clubs associated with Le Chesnay and Versailles.
Her career also included European club competition. She represented the Belgian club Mosa Jambes in the 1998–99 Ronchetti Cup, a women’s basketball tournament organized by FIBA.
The competition brought together clubs from different European countries and provided an international stage for established players.
De Fautereau’s participation is documented in official basketball records, including individual game statistics from September through November 1998.
Her European Basketball Statistics
1998–99 RONCHETTI CUP · MOSA JAMBES
10.2
Points per game
4.7
Rebounds per game
6
Games played
61
Total points
Across six recorded games, she played 118 minutes and made 25 of her 49 field-goal attempts, giving her a shooting percentage of 51%.
She also collected 28 rebounds and seven steals during the competition. Her highest-scoring appearance in those six games came on September 16, 1998, when she recorded 16 points and eight rebounds.
These statistics provide a concrete record of her European playing experience, independent of her later association with her son’s NBA career.
From Basketball Player to Youth Coach
After her playing career, de Fautereau became involved in youth basketball development.
She coached at Entente Le Chesnay Versailles 78 Basket, a French club connected to the area where her family lived. The organization was also where Victor Wembanyama began his basketball journey.
Working with younger players allowed her to pass on the knowledge she had acquired through competitive basketball.
Youth coaching involves more than teaching players to shoot or dribble. It introduces children to teamwork, movement, positioning, and the basic structure of organized competition.
De Fautereau’s coaching career also meant that her children regularly spent time around basketball courts, practices, and other young athletes.
That environment gave them early exposure to the sport without requiring them to follow identical athletic paths.
Élodie de Fautereau and Victor Wembanyama
Élodie de Fautereau played an important role in introducing Victor Wembanyama to basketball. Her coaching work and playing experience meant he was surrounded by the sport from an early age.
However, basketball was not his only childhood activity. Victor also played football as a goalkeeper and practiced judo before concentrating on basketball.
He began playing at Le Chesnay before joining Nanterre 92, where he continued developing his skills.
In an October 2022 interview with SLAM, Victor explained that basketball had always been present in his family but that he had the freedom to choose whether to pursue it.
His mother’s influence extended beyond introducing him to the game. Growing up around an experienced player and coach gave him opportunities to observe basketball and understand its demands before entering the professional ranks.
Victor eventually became the first overall selection in the 2023 NBA Draft, joining the San Antonio Spurs.
Her Husband and Three Children
Élodie de Fautereau and Félix Wembanyama have three children: Ève, Victor, and Oscar.
Félix competed in track and field, specializing in jumping events. His athletic background complemented Élodie’s basketball experience, exposing their children to different sports and approaches to physical development.
Their eldest child, Ève Wembanyama, pursued basketball and represented France in international youth competition. Victor became an NBA player, while their youngest son, Oscar, also followed a basketball career.
The family’s sporting background extends beyond the immediate household. With Élodie’s parents also having played basketball, Victor and his siblings represent another generation of athletes in the family.
How Tall Is Élodie de Fautereau?
Élodie de Fautereau is approximately 6 feet 3 inches tall, equivalent to 1.91 meters.
Her height has been mentioned in NBA coverage of Victor Wembanyama’s family. Félix Wembanyama is also tall, standing at approximately 6 feet 6 inches.
Victor’s extraordinary height has attracted considerable attention throughout his basketball career. However, his development reflects more than physical stature, with his parents bringing experience from different sporting disciplines.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How old is Élodie de Fautereau?
Élodie de Fautereau was born on August 12, 1971. She turned 55 in August 2026.
2. Did Élodie de Fautereau play professional basketball?
Yes. She played competitive basketball in France and participated in European club competition. Her recorded appearances include six games for Mosa Jambes in the 1998–99 Ronchetti Cup.
3. Is Élodie de Fautereau Victor Wembanyama’s mother?
Yes. She is the mother of Victor Wembanyama, the French basketball player selected first overall by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2023 NBA Draft.
4. Who is Élodie de Fautereau’s husband?
Her husband is Félix Wembanyama, a former track-and-field athlete with experience in the long jump and triple jump.
5. How many children does Élodie de Fautereau have?
She has three children: Ève, Victor, and Oscar Wembanyama. All three have pursued basketball.
6. Did Élodie de Fautereau coach Victor Wembanyama?
She worked as a youth basketball coach at Le Chesnay Versailles, where Victor began playing. Her involvement in coaching and the family’s basketball background contributed to his early exposure to the sport.
Conclusion
Élodie de Fautereau’s story extends beyond being Victor Wembanyama’s mother. Her career as a basketball player, documented appearances in European competition, and subsequent work coaching young athletes establish her own place in the sport. Alongside Félix Wembanyama, she raised three children who pursued basketball, continuing a family sporting tradition that began generations earlier.
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