“She was the star,” Delaney-Smith says. “We were stars because we knew her. And I was really a star because I coached her.”

Of late, Feaster has struggled with her health. A knee injury required surgery in August, which has prevented her from playing in France so far this season.

“Hopefully she’ll be healthy by the time we play her,” Peljto says.

Delaney-Smith says Feaster’s strength is her ability to adjust to conditions. In college, Feaster, like Peljto, played the post. In the WNBA, she was forced to play more perimeter defense, a stark change.

“She said for a year and a half that was her biggest challenge in the WNBA—defending [small forwards on the perimeter],” Delaney-Smith says. “Because she really didn’t do that here.”

Now, Feaster is one of the best defensive players in the WNBA.

And she can score, too. In 2000-2001, Feaster led the League Feminine with a 21.3 per game scoring average.

As for February 12? When Feaster and Peljto square off in Valenciennes, the game will inspire a conflict of loyalties.

Expect Delaney-Smith, the heretofore relaxed coach, to trouble herself about the outcome.

So who does she want to win?

“No, no, no,” she protests. “Both.”

Delaney-Smith pauses, weighing the benefits.

“My son is going to apply to Davidson, which is really near Allison Feaster’s house in Charlotte,” she says. “And she promised I could stay there.

“Versus, Hana’s on the Riviera…”

The battle between Harvard’s best ever basketball stars has yet to begin. The battle for Delaney-Smith’s favor is in full swing.

Early advantage? That’s the one thing she won’t happily divulge.

—Staff writer Alex McPhillips can be reached at rmcphill@fas.harvard.edu.