What's happened
The United States has extended its World Cup winning streak to 35 games, defeating Spain 82-68 to advance to the final in Berlin. France will face the United States after beating Germany to set up a rematch of the 2024 Olympic final. Gabby Williams led the U.S. with 22 points, while Breanna Stewart added 16.
What's behind the headline?
Critical analysis
- The American program is showing depth beyond its stars, with Williams and Copper combining for a strong supporting performance. This suggests the team has developed resilience to close out tight games, even under heavy defensive pressure.
- France is preparing for a rematch that could define the World Cup, using a balanced attack to overcome Germany and keep its unbeaten run in knockouts alive. read more from BeIN and Arab News quotes.
What this means for readers
- A USA-France final would amplify the profile of the World Cup and could influence recruitment and preparation strategies across women’s basketball globally.
- The Americans’ ability to reset after a tough third quarter signals a potential for further growth as the event moves toward the medal rounds.
How we got here
The U.S. women's team remains undefeated at the World Cup with a 34-game streak dating to 2006. Spain pushed the Americans in a tight third quarter, but the defending champions pulled away in the fourth. Germany and France advanced to the semifinals, with France aiming to avenge a narrow Paris Olympic final loss.
Our analysis
- Al Jazeera reports USA held off Spain in the fourth to advance to the Berlin final; Gabby Williams led with 22 points, Breanna Stewart added 16. - France 24 confirms Williams’s 22 points and adds context about France’s semifinal win and a potential rematch with the U.S. in the final. - Arab News covers the same semifinals results and Williams’s comments, reinforcing the narrative of a USA-France final.
Go deeper
- Will the USA complete the World Cup run with a gold in Berlin?
- Can France avenge the Olympic final and win its first World Cup title?
- Who steps up for Spain and Germany in the next event?
More on these topics
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Spain - Country
Spain, officially the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southwestern Europe with some pockets of territory across the Strait of Gibraltar and the Atlantic Ocean. Its continental European territory is situated on the Iberian Peninsula.
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France - Country in Europe
France, officially the French Republic, is a country consisting of metropolitan France in Western Europe and several overseas regions and territories.
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Germany - Country in Europe
Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central and Western Europe. Covering an area of 357,022 square kilometres, it lies between the Baltic and North seas to the north, and the Alps to the south.
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Gabby Williams - French basketball player (born 1996)
Gabrielle Lisa Williams (born September 9, 1996) is an American-French professional basketball player for the Golden State Valkyries of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for Fenerbahçe of the Turkish Super League and EuroLeague Women. She was drafted 4th overall by the Chicago Sky in the 2018 WNBA draft. She was a EuroLeague champion in 2022, when she was named the Final Four MVP, and again in 2026. Williams played forward in college for the UConn Huskies, and won back to back national championships in 2015 and 2016. She has played for the French national team in the Tokyo 2020 and the Paris 2024 Olympic games.
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Russia - Country
Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country located in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. Covering an area of 17,125,200 square kilometres, it is the largest country in the world by area, spanning more than one-eighth of the Earth's in
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beIN SPORTS - Television channel
beIN Sports is a global network of sports channels owned and operated by the Qatari media group beIN. It has played a major role in the increased commercialization of Qatari sports. Its chairman is Nasser Al-Khelaifi, and its CEO is Yousef Obaidly. beIN S
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United States - Country in North America
The United States of America, commonly known as the United States or America, is a country mostly located in central North America, between Canada and Mexico.
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Berlin - Capital of Germany
Berlin is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3,769,495 inhabitants make it the most populous city proper of the European Union. The city is one of Germany's 16 federal states.