As expected, it will be Team USA versus France in a rematch of the gold medal game at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. The Americans were pushed to the limit in that game and escaped with a one-point win when Gabby Williams' shot at the buzzer went in, but was ruled a two-pointer because her foot was on the line. Williams and France have been on a roll in Berlin.
Against the hosts Germany in the semifinals on Saturday, Williams put up 22 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals to continue a stellar tournament that has her in line to potentially win MVP regardless of Sunday's result. Other French standouts include New York Liberty guard Marine Johannès, Connecticut Sun guard Leïla Lacan and Williams' Golden State Valkyries teammate Janelle Salaün. In fact, France's roster features eight current WNBA players.
The French are a perfect 5-0 in the tournament, and have won their games by an average of 35.6 points. France leads the tournament in scoring (96.2 points per game), field goal percentage (51.6%), 3-point percentage (44.2%), 3-point field goals (73) and steals per game (13.2). Team USA has not consistently reached the same level as France in the World Cup, but is also a perfect 5-0 and has the most talented roster in the world.
Will the Americans win a fifth conscutive World Cup title and tie the Soviet Union's record of five straight titles from 1959-75? Or will France pull off a historic upset and win their first ever World Cup title? Date: Sunday, Sept. 13 | Time: 2 p.m.
ETLocation: Berlin Arena -- Berlin, GermanyTV: TNT | Live stream: HBO MaxOdds (via FanDuel): Team USA -7.5 | O/U: 156.5 The match we have been waiting for has arrived, and I've gone back and forth on my prediction about a million times. Both teams looked tight at times in their semis, but pulled away comfortably late in the fourth quarter - albeit France more so than Team USA, defeating Germany by 22 points in the end. Gabby Williams, in particular, was absolutely sensational for Les Bleues.
Make no mistake about it, this French team is capable of beating the United States. If this was the WNBA Finals, I would not be picking a sweep. Ultimately, this edition of Team USA is just too deep up and down the roster to be toppled, and while the Americans have looked far from perfect in Berlin, they've found a way.
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