Valkyries star Gabby Williams, France again denied by US in women’s FIBA World Cup final

By CIARÁN FAHEY

BERLIN (AP) — France star Gabby Williams again did all she could only to be thwarted once more by the United States in the final of the women’s FIBA World Cup.

The Americans won Sunday’s showdown between the teams 97-79, dealing Williams and France another painful loss after the women’s basketball final at the 2024 Olympics.

The U.S. won that gold medal game in Paris by a point, 67-66, after Williams’ last-second shot was just inside the 3-point line rather than outside to tie the game.

No last-second score could have salvaged anything for France on Sunday as the Americans recovered from a two-point halftime deficit with a dominant third-quarter performance – outscoring their opponents 30-12 – to effectively decide the result well ahead of time.

“I just told my teammates not to put their heads down tonight,” said Williams, who as captain was the first French player to go and congratulate the winners. “We have a lot to be proud of, but I think we’re gonna remember how this feels.”

Leading by example

Williams had done her best, but she couldn’t do it alone for France.

The former UConn standout scored 20 points, made three rebounds, seven assists, and three steals in Sunday’s final, capping an outstanding tournament in which she had scored an average 18.7 points across her six games.

“Of course we’re disappointed right now, but I think we’re showing little by little, France is a basketball country,” she said. “That was my goal, when I joined this team … to change the culture. Obviously we have higher expectations, but we’ll get there.”

Dominique Malonga led France against the U.S. with 21 points and six rebounds. Marine Johannès netted one 3-pointer from five attempts and finished with five points.

Ultimately none of them could stop Breanna Stewart (22 points), Jackie Young (18), Kahleah Copper (15) or Chelsea Gray and Caitlin Clark (both 12).

“This was an easy group to lead,” Williams said of her teammates. “It was obviously intimidating being given this role, given this pressure, but I think just with this group it was very easy. I just wanted to pour into them as much as I can and make them feel as confident, because I really do still believe in every single person on our roster. I just want them to believe in themselves.”

France coach Jean-Aimé Toupane concluded the post-game press conference by speaking of his admiration for the captain.

“She demonstrated that she had the capacity, she led this team. I’m proud of her,” Toupane said. “The whole team followed her, and she showed us the way. Now we need to come back stronger as a team.”

Promising start

France started promisingly against the U.S. and began the second quarter with eight unanswered points. The U.S. called a timeout. Williams then scored a 3-pointer to put France 14 points clear and wheeled away with her right arm up in celebration.

Angel Reese looked concerned. She didn’t need to. Clark ended the half with a triple to leave the U.S. trailing by just two points and the four-time defending champions kept going from there.

Williams had been playing it cool before the game, insisting she had “no preference” which country France faced in the final after she’d led her team in the semifinal win over host Germany. The U.S. still had to play Spain that night at Berlin Arena.

If Williams felt she had unfinished business with the U.S., she refused to acknowledge it.

No French player wanted to give the Americans any more motivation than they already had before the final, and Williams has made a point of not making her true feelings known.

“We’re not going to show weaknesses on the court, we’re not going to show doubts. If we did, our opponents would eat us alive,” she said.

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