[7] Popova and French skater Bruno Massot decided to team up in March 2011 and began serious training in June.

[10] Visa and administrative delays led to uncertainty about their participation at the 2012 European Championships but the situation was resolved just before the event.

In the 2012–13 season, Popova/Massot received two Grand Prix assignments — they placed fifth at the 2012 Skate Canada International and seventh at the 2012 Trophée Eric Bompard.

Popova then ceased training for six weeks due to a stress fracture in the third metatarsal bone of her left foot, causing the pair to withdraw from the 2013 Trophée Eric Bompard and French Championships.

[2] Having resumed training in mid-December 2013, the pair elected to reduce the difficulty of some elements for the 2014 European Championships in January.

On 21 January 2014, it was reported that Popova had not received French nationality in time and France's second spot would be transferred to Austria.

[15] After spending a week in mid-May 2014 helping Brian Joubert learn pair skating in Caen, Popova flew to Moscow in search of a new partner.