Gabby Williams' 22 Put France in Its First World Cup Final
France beat host Germany 86-64; Williams 22/5/5/4 POTG; first France WC final / first podium since 1953.
Photo: WNBA.com / Golden State Valkyries. Official league headshot, 1040×760, full head.
France beat host Germany 86-64 in Saturday's FIBA Women's World Cup semifinal and reached its first World Cup final.
Gabby Williams finished with 22 points, five rebounds, five assists, and four steals as TCL Player of the Game.
Berlin Arena held 12,650. Quarters went 25-23, 20-15, 19-12, 22-14. France never trailed after the first. Williams needed 31 minutes for 8-of-12 from the field, 6-of-7 on twos, 2-of-5 from three, 4-of-5 at the line, plus-17, zero turnovers, and an efficiency of 31. Janelle Salaün posted 14 and 11. Marine Johannès added 13 with three threes and slowed the clock when the lead was already safe. Valériane Ayayi hit 10. France finished with seven turnovers. Germany spilled 25. FIBA calls the 22-point margin the biggest by any non-USA team in a Women's World Cup semifinal.
That is the same Gabby who already owned the group stage. She put 17 on Hungary, 14 on Korea, 25 with six threes on Nigeria, then 14 and seven on China in the quarterfinal. Tournament line sits at 18.4 points, 5.2 boards, 3.4 assists, and 2.8 steals through five games. The 22 on Saturday also moved her to 187 career Women's World Cup points, past Céline Dumerc into third on France's all-time list.
Photo: FIBA. Gabby Williams #15 France in-game still from the Germany semifinal coverage, assets.fiba.basketball gkyyasyiozibowih0j0e, landscape 2000×1333, full head. Never stack with the headshot.
Germany walked in as the story of the week after its first World Cup semifinal, a sold-out building, and Olaf Lange still riding the Belgium quarterfinal. The Spain opener from group play never left their hard drive, and France made sure it stayed there. France had cleared 90 in each of its first four games. Saturday was the one that finally asked for half-court discipline instead of another blowout clip, and the fourth answered with a 22-14 close.
Sunday is USA. The four-time defending champions beat Spain 76-66 in the other semifinal and stay undefeated in Berlin. France is on the podium for the first time since the 1953 tournament. The medal drought ends either way. The possession that decides gold still has to be found against Stewart's frontcourt.
Sources
- FIBA: Gabby's monster performance fires France to historic Final — 86-64; Williams POTG 22/5/5/4 EFF 31; Salaün 14/11; Johannès 13; Ayayi 10; France 7 TO / Germany 25 TO; attendance 12,650; first France WC Final; first podium since 1953; biggest non-USA semis margin (22); Williams 187 WC points, past Dumerc to 3rd on France list
- FIBA player page: Gabby Williams — vs GER 12/09/2026: 31 min, 22 PTS, 8/12 FG, 6/7 2PT, 2/5 3PT, 4/5 FT, 1 OREB, 4 DREB, 5 REB, 5 AST, 0 TO, 4 STL, +17, EFF 31; tournament avg 18.4/5.2/3.4
- FIBA game page: France vs Germany — game 128153; final 86-64
- ESPN box: France vs Germany — quarters FRA 25/20/19/22, GER 23/15/12/14
- AP via ABC: France tops host Germany 86-64 — Ciarán Fahey; Johannès three 3s among 13; France 90+ in first four games; Germany path after Spain opener
- ESPN: USA 76-66 Spain — USA advances to final vs France
- Photos: WNBA.com Williams 1628931; FIBA still gkyyasyiozibowih0j0e
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