USA edge Spain to book Women’s Basketball World Cup final against France

What the report says

The United States and France will meet in the Women’s Basketball World Cup final in Berlin after both teams won their semifinals on Saturday, according to Al Jazeera’s report based on AFP coverage. The U.S. defeated Spain 76-66 in a tense game, while France beat host nation Germany 86-64 earlier in the day.

Spain briefly threatened an upset, tying the score at 58-58 after the third quarter against the defending champions. But the Americans regained control in the fourth period, helped by Breanna Stewart’s 16 points and Kahleah Copper’s 13. The win extended the U.S. team’s tournament winning streak to 35 games. Al Jazeera also noted a quiet outing for Caitlin Clark, who finished with one point.

France reached its first World Cup final behind 22 points from Gabby Williams, who also added five assists and four steals. The French remained unbeaten in the tournament and used strong runs in the second half to pull away from Germany. Williams, who was born in the United States, described the moment as a rare chance to compete for a major title.

The final will be a rematch of the 2024 Olympic gold medal game in Paris, which the United States won narrowly. That adds extra context to a matchup that pits the long-dominant Americans against a French side seeking its first world title.