After cruising to quarter-final victories at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, the U.S. and France have set off on a collision course that could ?bring a rematch of their 2024 Olympic gold-medal game in the final.
France dispatched 90-61 in Berlin to reach the semi-finals for the first time, led by 15 points each from Janelle Salaun and Marine Johannes, as well as 14 from captain Gabby Williams.
They now have a ?chance to claim their first World Cup medal since the inaugural tournament in ?1953, when they finished third in the final round.
‘This team here just ?want to make a new story. And I think that’s the most important thing,’?France coach Jean Aime Toupane told reporters.
After missing out on Olympic gold to the Americans ?by one point in Paris two years ago, France entered the tournament with confidence and hunger.
‘We are lucky because we are a group that have known each other for a couple of years now,’?Salaun said of the team’s chemistry.
‘We went through a lot of things, the Olympics, ?training camp(s), so we just know each other and we know what we want. We have a and ?we want to do everything to get to this goal.’
Both Olympic finalists are now one win away from setting up a rematch after the U.S. crushed Hungary 108-56 earlier in the day, with 19 points from Napheesa Collier.
The defending champions’ 108?points and 31 assists ?were both records ?for a World Cup quarter-final.
‘This was one of our most complete performances of the tournament,’ U.S. coach Kara Lawson said, adding that she ?was pleased with her team’s defensive efforts.
‘And then offensively, we as ?coaches love ?when they share the ball,’ Lawson said with a smile. ‘And they did at just a high level.’
‘As far as France, what a wonderful team, and they’ve had an outstanding World Cup ?so ?far,’ Lawson added. ‘So they should have a lot of ?people thinking that they can do well.’
The U.S. will play either Spain or Australia in the semi-finals, while France ?await the winner of Belgium and Germany.