And they meet again… In a game where you have to have short memories and think of the next step quicker than you can blink, France seems to be making that task hard for Team USA. Two years ago, in the 2024 Paris Olympics finals, Gabby Williams’ ‘three-point’ attempt was deemed a two-pointer as she mistakenly stepped on the arc before shooting, failing to push for an overtime. That heartbreak was tough, but not new to Williams. But even though the French star believes she is over the pain, she plans to play spoiler for the Americans, who are aiming for their fifth consecutive title.

The 2024 Paris Finals rematch was predicted right after the USA walked off a hard-fought win over Italy in the group stages and secured a direct entry into the knockouts in the group against Les Bleues. Meanwhile, France had crossed the final four for the first time since 1953 and is in the Finals for the first time in its history, but carries a high probability of dethroning Team USA tomorrow. And that fact is not lost on USA’s star forward Breanna Stewart.

“Tough one. They’re a really tough team. They’re shooting the (expletive) out of the ball this tournament, but we have a quick turnaround … We’ll flip the page for France,” Stewart told USA Today’s Meghan L. Hall.

There is a good reason for Breanna Stewart to not underestimate her opponents she knows all too well. After all, Gabby Williams and France have been in red-hot form in this tournament, comfortably outmatching the Americans on some major shooting parameters.

France have displayed an impressive 51.6% shooting from the field and 44.2% from beyond the arc. On the other hand, the USA’s ride to the finals has been bumpy, with them averaging 45.9% from the field and 31.8% from the three-point line. What’s worse is that even though they keep learning from their mistakes, Team USA is not necessarily avoiding making them. Consider the following facts:

• Against Spain on Saturday, USA secured a 76-66 semi-final win, but in the demanding matchup, they never looked entirely in control. In fact, the ten-point difference was the reigning champions’ smallest winning margin in a Women’s World Cup semi-final.
• A week ago, Italy held them to the lowest score and margin of victory in their two-decade winning streak. And one of their star players, Caitlin Clark, missed all of her buckets in the game.

However, one thing that’s working in their favor and could give the strong French team an uphill battle is Team USA’s defense.

Team USA’s X’s and O’s against France

Whatever intermittent offensive lulls the United States has had, their defense has been downright suffocating. Through five games, no opponent has cracked 66 points, none have shot higher than 37.9% from the field, and every single challenger has been forced into at least 15 turnovers against the relentless American pressure. Adding to that is their reliable offensive power: Breanna Stewart.

Stewart is averaging 11 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game in this tournament, being second on the team in points and first in rebounds. She also posts the highest efficiency rating at 16.6. Jackie Young is scoring a team-high 11.2 points and is yet another support for Team USA alongside Kahleah Copper. However, it seems that Gabby Williams and Co. simply cannot miss at the moment.

Team France could continue exceeding expectations against USA

France last won over Team USA in the preliminary rounds of the 1971 competition. Overall, the Americans have held a 13-1 H2H record over them. But Les Bleus rolled into the knockout rounds dominantly, capturing first place in Group B with 305 points across three games this year. They have accumulated an impressive 481 points so far in the tournament, converting a staggering 173 of 335 shots taken from the field.

In the game against Nigeria, a historic three-point barrage powered France into the history books as they buried 22 of 40 from deep—the highest single-game three-point tally in FIBA history. Erupting for 65 points before the break, this France side set the record for the most prolific first half at a Women’s World Cup in the country’s history, simultaneously tying the second-highest opening-half mark by any squad since 2000. This French attack has been spearheaded by Gabby Williams.

With six three-pointers in the game against Nigeria, Williams became the first French player ever to hit that mark for France in a Women’s World Cup game. She is averaging 18.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game in this World Cup. Flanking Williams is Marine Johannès.

Despite operating as a sixth woman, the New York Liberty star maximizes every second on the floor, putting on an absolute clinic from deep with 19 three-pointers through the five games Team France has played so far. She is averaging 15.8 points and 3.4 assists per game this World Cup. However, playing against a team like the USA will be more challenging than any other team France has faced yet, something France’s Marine Johannès is also cognizant of.

“If I’m (being) honest, we have nothing to lose,” Johannès said during the press conference after their win over Germany. “We actually know they’re a great team. They won every World Cup for years and years. They are really talented. We all know that. We are playing with these players all season in the W, we know how good they are. It’s one game. Nothing to lose. We are going to play hard, and we’ll see what happens.”

The French will enter the finals with an air of revenge for the Paris Olympics finals loss, where the USA escaped with just a one-point victory. The French now have another shot to erase that painful memory, and the US is looking for its 12th World Cup title. The two teams will clash on Sunday, September 13, in the Berlin Arena, Berlin, Germany.