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France has reached the women’s basketball World Cup final for the first time after beating hosts Germany 86-64 in Berlin on Saturday.
Gabby Williams led France with 22 points as the Olympic silver medallists maintained their unbeaten run and secured a place in Sunday’s final.
Williams was influential at both ends of the court, also finishing with five assists and four steals to lead the French defence and playmaking efforts.
The United States-born guard said she was determined to make the most of the opportunity, acknowledging that chances to reach a World Cup final do not come often.
“You never know when you’ll get an opportunity like this. You don’t know if it’ll be the last one. So, I’m just going to give everything,” she said.
France could face the United States in the final if the 11-time champions defeat Spain later on Saturday.
A meeting with the Americans would allow France to avenge their one-point defeat in the Olympic final in Paris in 2024.
The United States are on a 34-game winning streak at the World Cup, dating back to their surprise semi-final defeat by Russia in 2006.
The underdog Germans swept past European champions Belgium in their quarter-final clash for a first semi-final appearance as a unified country, with East Germany having made the final four in 1967.
France made the stronger start to Saturday’s contest, but Germany stayed close and trailed by only two points at the end of the opening quarter.
The French gradually established control and opened the second half with nine unanswered points to build a 16-point advantage.
Germany responded in the final quarter as Alexis Peterson and Emily Bessoir hit three-pointers to reduce the deficit to nine points.
France, however, regained control with a decisive 12-0 run to close out the game and secure their maiden appearance in the World Cup final.
