The United States will take on France in the final of the women’s basketball World Cup after scraping to a 76-66 semifinal win over Spain in Berlin. Underdogs Spain, whose best-ever result was reaching the 2014 final against the Americans, levelled the scores at 58-all at the end of the third quarter against the defending champions on Saturday. But the experience of the 11-time champions told in the final period as USA outscored their opponents by 10 to seal victory.
Led by 16 points from Breanna Stewart and 13 from Kahleah Copper, USA extended their winning streak at the tournament to 35 matches, a run that dates back to a semifinal defeat by Russia in 2006. Sunday’s clash with France will be a rematch of the 2024 Paris Olympics gold medal match, which the Americans won by just one point. We won that game and that game is over, and this is a completely new game tomorrow,” Stewart told reporters when asked about the 2024 final.
Spain made a fast start and built an eight-point lead midway through the first quarter. The Americans found their rhythm and controlled much of the second and third quarters, edging ahead as Copper and Stewart kept the scoreboard ticking over. But, as they had against Italy, the Americans allowed their intensity to drop, and Spain fought back, finishing the third quarter on a 9-2 run to draw level.
Spain had the 12,650-strong crowd behind them as a stunning upset seemed on the cards, but the Americans stood tall when it mattered, starting the final quarter with a 12-2 burst to regain control. France advanced to the final for the first time after an 86-64 victory over host nation Germany earlier in the day. Gabby Williams top scored with 22 points for the Olympic silver medallists, who preserved their unbeaten record at the tournament going into Sunday’s decider in Berlin.
The US-born Williams, who also dished out five assists and recorded four steals, was the constant threat on both ends of the floor for the French. Admitting she was “on a mission”, Williams told BeIN Sports: “I just want to give it my all. You don’t know if it’ll be the last one.
So, I’m just going to give everything.” Marieme Badiane told reporters the French would not be daunted by the prospect of trying to stop the American juggernaut. No one is going to let up.” Outsiders Germany swept past European champions Belgium in their quarterfinal clash for a first semifinal appearance as a unified country, with East Germany having made the final four in 1967. France burst out of the blocks early, but the Germans stayed hot on their heels, trailing by just two at the end of the opening period.
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