Only four teams remain in the women’s basketball FIBA World Cup, and they’ll face off on Saturday in the semi-finals.
France will face Germany at 10:30 am, followed by the United States vs. Spain. The winners of both games will face off in the gold medal game on Sunday, and the losers will face off in the bronze medal game.
Germany is coming off a big-time upset win against Belgium in the quarterfinals, in which they were led by Leonie Fiebich (17 points, 10 rebounds), Nyara Sabally (16 points, 12 rebounds), Frieda Buhner (13 points), and Alexis Peterson (13 points, 6 assists).
Before that, Germany was blown out by Spain in Group Play before tallying wins against Japan, Mali, and Korea.
Overall, Germany has been led by Buhner, who is averaging a team-high 14.8 points per game, Sabally (averaging 12 points, 7.2 rebounds), Marie Guelich (averaging 11.8 points, 4.2 rebounds), and Leonie Fiebich (averaging 10 points, 9 rebounds).
France, meanwhile, has blown out every opponent they’ve faced — a list that now includes Hungary, Korea, Nigeria, and China. They have been led by Gabby Williams (17.3 points, 5.3 rebounds), Marine Johannes (16.5 points, 3.8 assists), Janelle Salaun (11.5 points, 5 rebounds), Dominique Malonga (11 points, 7.3 rebounds), and Leila Lacan (9 points, 3 assists).
France has relied on its tenacious defense and high-volume three-point shooting; they’re hitting 45.3% of a tournament-high 34.5 attempts per game.
Prediction: A big-time win for France
Team USA has blown out China, Czechia, and Hungary en route to the semi-finals, while squeezing out a 3-point win over Italy in Group Play. USA has the deepest roster in the tournament, with 9 players averaging at least 6 points per game.
Jackie Young (11 points, 2.5 assists), Napheesa Collier (10.3 points, 5 rebounds), Breanna Stewart (9.8 points, 7 rebounds), Paige Bueckers (9.5 points, 3.5 assists), Angel Reese (8.8 points, 6 rebounds), Caitlin Clark (8.5 points, 7 assists), and Rhyne Howard (8.5 points) have been among the team’s top performers so far.
Spain, meanwhile, has been dominant in the tournament so far, with the exception of a stunning loss to Mali in group play. Spain blew out Germany and Japan in group play, and Australia in the quarterfinals.
The team has been led by 20-year-old Iyana Martin, who is averaging 16.5 points, 3.3 assists, and 3.3 rebounds per game, while shooting 43.5% from beyond the arc.
WNBA rookie Awa Fam has also been instrumental — she’s averaging 11.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game — as have Megan Gustafson (10.5 points), Maria Conde (9.3 points, 3.8 rebounds), Raquel Carrera (6.8 points, 6.5 rebounds), and Alicia Florez (6.8 points, 3 assists).
Prediction: Big-time win for the United States — Spain and Germany seem destined to face off in the bronze medal game.
