The 2026 FIBA World Cup semi-finals are set, and honestly, it’s the matchups we all wanted. We’re talking Germany vs. France, then Spain taking on the United States. Everyone expects to see France and Team USA prevail, setting up that epic rematch from the 2024 Olympic final. This isn’t just a semifinal; it’s the prelude to what could be an all-timer!
Germany’s Hot Streak Faces a French Juggernaut
Germany, the host nation, is on a serious roll after an uninspiring opening loss to Spain. Remember that? Felt like World Cup glory was totally out of reach, especially with their best player, Satou Sabally, sidelined. But these Germans just strung together four-straight wins! Their coach, Olaf Lange, was “speechless” after their quarter-final performance, calling it “the best day in the history of German women’s basketball.” You gotta wonder, is this pure momentum or do they have another level? They’re going to need something special to beat France, that’s for sure.
France isn’t just living up to their high expectations, they’re crushing them. They walked into this tournament as the preeminent threat to the United States, and their performances in Berlin have only cemented that status. Seriously, France has arguably been the best team in the whole tournament, outdoing even Team USA with their offensive efficiency and defensive disruptiveness. Gabby Williams is having a World Cup MVP campaign, dropping 17.5 points per game on an insane 54.3 percent shooting, plus snagging 2.5 steals per contest. When Williams is on the court for France, they’ve outscored opponents by 93 points in just 92 minutes! Germany’s probably gonna throw Leonie Fiebich at her, but good luck with that.
France’s Deep Bench is a Problem for Everyone
It’s not just Gabby Williams, either. France runs deep with reliable offensive options. Marine Johannès has been a shooting star, hitting 16-for-33 from deep, which is 48.5 percent! And get this: she hasn’t missed a single 2-point shot. Dominique Malonga was the tournament’s most productive 2-point scorer before facing some tough struggles against China. And then you’ve got Janelle Salaün, who’s gone 7-for-15 from beyond the arc in France’s last two wins, putting up 34 points across those games. Germany needs an absolute outlier shooting performance just to stay in the game with this French squad. They are just that good.
So, get ready for Germany to challenge France, and then Spain to take on the United States. If everything plays out like it should, we’re getting that France vs. USA rematch of the 2024 Olympic final. You know what’s at stake there: bragging rights and a World Cup title. It’s gonna be wild!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Swish Appeal.
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