Gabby Williams scored 22 points as France ended a 73-year wait to reach the FIBA Women's World Cup final with an 86-64 semifinal victory over host Germany at Berlin Arena on Saturday.
France will face the United States or Spain in Sunday's final, seeking a maiden world title after last reaching the championship game in 1953 — when the tournament was still in its infancy and only a handful of nations competed.
It was a performance of ruthless efficiency from Jean-Aimé Toupane's side, who forced 25 German turnovers and never allowed the home crowd of 12,650 to find sustained momentum despite a gutsy German effort.
"A tricky game," France coach Toupane said afterward. "But we were ready for the fight."
Williams was at the heart of everything positive for France. The guard-forward filled the stat line with 22 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals, consistently creating havoc on both ends of the floor. Her ability to attack the basket and find open teammates under pressure was the defining factor in a game that was tighter than the final scoreline suggested.
Janelle Salaün matched Williams' intensity with a commanding double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds, controlling the glass against a German frontcourt that had feasted on Belgium's bigger lineups in the quarter-final. Marine Johannès added 13 points, including three three-pointers, and expertly managed the tempo in the fourth quarter as France pulled away.
"It was really a fight tonight," Johannès said. "I think we were ready for that."
The result was historic on multiple levels. This was the first semifinal appearance for both nations since the format was introduced in 1986, and Germany had already exceeded all expectations by reaching this stage — only their second World Cup appearance. Their quarter-final triumph over European champions Belgium had prompted coach Olaf Lange to declare it "German basketball's best day."
But France, who had scored more than 90 points in each of their four group-stage games, proved a different proposition entirely. The French press suffocated Germany's ball-handlers from the opening tip, and the turnovers they generated — 25 in total — translated into easy transition baskets that kept the German comeback attempts at bay.
Germany showed glimpses of the fight that had carried them past Belgium. The home side refused to fold even as the deficit grew, and the Berlin Arena crowd — featuring basketball legends Dirk Nowitzki and Dennis Schröder — remained vocal throughout. But the gulf in quality was evident in the second half, as France's depth and experience gradually wore Germany down.
The first half had been competitive, with France leading 45-38 at the break after edging each of the first two quarters. But France tightened their defensive grip after halftime, holding Germany to just 12 points in the third quarter and 14 in the fourth. The 25 turnovers Germany committed were the product of relentless French pressure that the hosts simply could not solve.
For France, the victory represents the culmination of a project that has been building since their bronze-medal finish at the 2022 World Cup in Sydney. Toupane's squad blends experienced campaigners like Williams, Johannès and Valériane Ayayi with younger talent like Salaün, creating a roster capable of competing with the United States — the four-time defending champions and overwhelming favourites.
Germany's tournament, meanwhile, ends in disappointment but with immense pride. After losing their opening game to Spain by 30 points, Lange's team recovered to beat Belgium and reach the last four — a remarkable achievement for a programme that is still developing its women's basketball infrastructure.
France will now prepare for Sunday's final against either the USA or Spain, who meet in the second semifinal on Saturday evening. Whatever the opponent, Toupane's team will carry the weight of 73 years of expectation into the Berlin Arena — and the belief that this squad can finally end France's long wait for a world title.
Sources
- https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/article/france-tops-host-germany-86-64-to-reach-women-s-22428834.php
- https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/france-deny-germany-home-final-163328405.html
