France advanced to the semifinals of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup for the first time by defeating China 90-61 on Thursday in Berlin. Marine Johannès and Janelle Salaün each scored 15 points, while Gabby Williams added 14 points to help the Olympic finalists secure a shot at their first World Cup medal since the inaugural 1953 tournament, where France finished third.
Historic Semifinal Breakthrough in Berlin
The victory broke a six-tournament quarterfinal streak for the French squad, erasing the memory of a 2022 quarterfinal loss to China in Sydney. Chants of “Allez les Bleues” filled the Berlin Arena as France controlled the tempo and built a 48-31 halftime lead, eventually extending the margin past 25 points in the third quarter.
“Significa mucho,” Williams said, regarding reaching the semifinals for the first time. “Queremos ser uno de los mejores equipos que jamás haya vestido la camiseta de Francia. Obviamente, tenemos un gran objetivo en este torneo, pero es fantástico poder tachar esto de la lista.”
France capitalized on perimeter shooting, sinking 14 of 37 three-point attempts. Salaün pointed to team chemistry as a driving factor behind the consistent offensive flow.
“Tenemos suerte porque somos un grupo que se conoce desde hace ya un par de años,” Salaün told the Associated Press, addressing the roster’s continuity from the Olympic Games and training camps.
Defensive Tactics Against Zhang Ziyu
The French defense contained China’s 7-foot-3 center, Zhang Ziyu, regularly committing two defenders whenever she touched the ball. According to game statistics, the 19-year-old was held scoreless during her 7 minutes and 18 seconds on the floor in the first half, though she managed three blocks before the break. Zhang finished the game with 7 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 turnovers.
Han Xu paced China with 21 points and 9 rebounds, maintaining a tournament-long streak of double-doubles, but the rest of the Chinese offense struggled against French ball pressure and pace.
Next Round Matchups and United States Dominance
France advances to face the winner of the quarterfinal between Germany and Belgium. On the other side of the bracket, Spain meets Australia, with the winner advancing to play the United States on Saturday.
The United States booked its semifinal spot earlier on Thursday by routing Hungary 108-56, powered by 19 points from Napheesa Collier, according to official tournament records. The victory extended the four-time defending champions’ tournament win streak to 34 games, dating back to a 2006 semifinal loss against Russia.
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