Gabby Williams scored 14 points on 5-for-7 shooting as France took a 45-38 halftime lead over Germany in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup semifinal. Her efficient scoring gave France a seven-point cushion at the break, with a place in the championship game on the line.

What happened

Williams anchored France’s first-half production, while Janelle Salaün and Valériane Ayayi supplied seven points apiece. Those contributions gave France three scorers combining for more than half of its offense heading into the second half.

Leonie Fiebich provided Germany with nine points, six rebounds and three assists, contributing across the scoresheet as her team pursued France. Nyara Sabally added seven points on 3-for-6 shooting, giving Germany another source of offense heading into the break.

Why it matters

A championship-game berth is at stake in the World Cup semifinal, making France’s halftime advantage a consequential step toward the final. Germany remained within seven points, leaving the second half to determine whether France could turn that edge into a place in the title game.

Captain Gabby Williams contributed beyond her scoring, recording three rebounds, two assists and two steals. That combination made her first-half performance central to the French effort on both ends of the floor.

By the numbers

Williams, Salaün and Ayayi combined for 28 of France’s 45 points, accounting for 62.2% of the first-half total. Williams supplied 14 of those 28 points, matching the combined scoring output of Salaün and Ayayi.

Fiebich made two 3-pointers as part of her nine-point half, with her six rebounds and three assists adding to Germany’s production. Sabally converted three of her six field-goal attempts, while Williams missed just two of seven for France.

What to watch next

The second-half focus for Germany is whether Fiebich and Sabally can generate enough offense to close the gap. Their scoring will bear watching alongside Fiebich’s ability to contribute rebounds and assists as Germany seeks to erase the deficit.

For France, the question is whether Williams can sustain her efficient shooting and continue receiving scoring support from Salaün and Ayayi. Their first-half production established the lead; maintaining that output would strengthen France’s position in the race for the championship game.