USA, France set for another title showdown

It’s like we saw this coming.

The defending champions had to defend their title and take their shot at a fifth straight crown against world No. 2 France in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Finals in Berlin, Germany, on September 14 (PH time).

France got off to a red-hot start in the tournament, taking down its opponents by an average margin of 42.3 points in the group stage, before making its way into its first-ever Basketball World Cup final.

Meanwhile, the United States faced a bumpy road on its way to its fifth straight Finals appearance, including its horror game against Italy, where the Americans escaped with a 55-52 victory.

Defending the crown without the contribution of WNBA star A'ja Wilson would be difficult this time, with only Breanna Stewart leading the young guns in their historic feat.

France has been one of the tournament’s most dominant teams, putting together convincing wins throughout its campaign before punching its ticket to the final with an 86-64 semifinal victory over host Germany.

The United States on the other hand secured its place in the championship game after defeating Spain, 76-66, in other semis clash.

By the numbers, France has been cruising through the tournament offensively, averaging 95.3 points per game, while the United States is averaging 90.8 points per game heading into the final. Leading the French charge is Gabby Williams, who is averaging 17.5 points per game.

These two giants last matched up in a showdown that filled the Bercy Arena crowd at the Paris Olympics, as they thrilled the court in a 67-66 game, with the US escaping with the gold.

Now, two years later, USA and France meet again. Round two is here.