France secured a convincing 90-61 victory over China on Thursday, booking their place in the semifinals of the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup. This dominant performance brings Les Bleues closer to clinching their first World Cup medal since the event’s inception in 1953.
Defensive Pressure Sets the Tone Early
The contest swung decisively in France’s favor from the opening moments, as their defense effectively neutralized China’s towering 7-foot-2 center, Zhang Ziyu. Through relentless double-teaming, Zhang was held scoreless for the first two quarters, finishing with only seven points and seven turnovers.
China’s Han Xu emerged as the top scorer with 21 points and pulled down nine rebounds, but her efforts were insufficient to bridge the growing deficit. Meanwhile, France’s offense thrived outside the paint, led by Gabby Williams, who contributed 14 points. Marine Johannès and Janelle Salaün each tallied 15 points, combining for nine three-pointers that kept the pressure on China’s defense.
France’s shooting from beyond the arc was particularly impressive, converting 14 of 37 attempts. This performance followed their record-setting 22 three-pointers in their last group-stage matchup, underscoring their sharpshooting prowess throughout the tournament.
With this win, France advances to face Germany in the semifinals on Saturday at 2 PM ET. The game will be broadcast on TNT and HBO Max. Meanwhile, the United States has already secured their spot in the final four, setting up a thrilling conclusion to the 2026 FIBA World Cup.