France beats Germany and reaches the first final of the Women’s Basketball World Cup

France reached the final of the Women’s Basketball World Cup for the first time after beating hosts Germany 86-64 in Saturday’s semifinal.

The Olympic silver medalists maintained their unbeaten record at the tournament with an impressive performance to secure their place in Sunday’s final in Berlin.

Gabby Williams led France’s scoring with 22 points and delivered a well-rounded performance to help her team overcome a spirited German team.

The US-born Williams also leads the league in assists with five and has recorded four steals, proving a constant threat at both ends of the court for the French.

France will now wait to find out their opponents in the final, with the United States facing Spain in the other semi-final later on Saturday.

France seeks revenge against the United States

Should the heavily favored United States reach the final, France will have the opportunity to avenge their narrow defeat in the 2024 Paris Olympic final.

The Americans, who are the reigning world champions, have dominated the competition over the years and are chasing another title.

The 11-time world champions currently have 34 consecutive World Cup wins, dating back to a surprise semi-final defeat to Russia in 2006.

France will therefore face a formidable challenge if the United States can reach the final, but Saturday’s convincing victory over Germany will give the French confidence ahead of the decider.

Germany fights before France pulls away

Germany entered the semi-finals with plenty of confidence after overcoming European champions Belgium in the quarter-finals to reach the semi-finals for the first time as a united nation.

East Germany had already reached the semi-finals in 1967, but Saturday’s match represented a historic occasion for the unified German team.

France started better and quickly asserted their quality, but the hosts did not allow themselves to be overwhelmed.

Germany remained within striking distance throughout the opening period and trailed by just two points at the end of the first quarter.

The hosts continued to compete strongly, but France gradually began to impose their quality and experience as the match progressed.

France seals victory with delay

The French took control after halftime, scoring nine consecutive points early in the second half to build a 16-point lead.

Germany refused to give up and fought back in the final quarter.

Alexis Peterson and Emily Bessoir both connected on three-pointers as the hosts cut the deficit to just eight points, keeping hopes of a comeback alive.

France, however, responded decisively when it mattered most.

The Olympic silver medalists produced another decisive scoring spree, putting together 12 unanswered points to close out the game and secure their place in the first women’s basketball World Cup final.

The victory keeps France’s unbeaten record intact and gives them the chance to claim their first world title when they return to action for Sunday’s final in Berlin.