Germany women's basketball reaches World Cup semifinals for first time, stuns Belgium 93-74

Germany's women's basketball team has achieved a historic milestone at the home World Cup in Berlin, advancing to the semifinals for the first time in national team history. The squad delivered a stunning upset against top favorite and European champions Belgium, winning 93–74 (42–35) before 10,537 spectators at the Uber Arena.

"The dream of winning the first World Cup medal lives on," said head coach Olaf Lange. "An incredible experience."

Key Performances

Led by the outstanding duo of Leonie Fiebich and Nyara Sabally, Germany dominated the contest:

• Nyara Sabally: 16 points, 12 rebounds
• Leonie Fiebich: 17 points

Basketball legend Dirk Nowitzki was among the spectators as the German team continued its remarkable run.

Semifinal Matchups

Germany will face France in the semifinal on Saturday at 4:30 PM. France advanced comfortably after defeating China 90–61.

In the second semifinal at 8:00 PM, defending champions USA—who beat Hungary 108–56—will face the winner of the matchup between Spain and Australia.

The final and third-place game are scheduled for Sunday.

A Historic Rise

For the German women's basketball team, this marks the greatest achievement in program history. Just a few years ago, the team was considered second-tier internationally; now they have arrived among the world's elite.

This success comes despite:

• The absence of star player Satou Sabally
• A rocky preparation period
• A 30-point loss to Spain at the start of the World Cup

However, Germany rebounded with three clear victories against Japan, Mali, and South Korea—and now the unexpected upset against Belgium.

Game Recap

Belgium's Strong Start

"This is a different caliber than Japan, Mali, or South Korea," Lange warned before the match. "This will be a moment where we see how far we have already grown. If we get off to a good start and defend well, we don't need to hide."

Belgium started strongly, with superstar Emma Meesseman scoring the first five points. Germany initially found themselves trailing.

Germany's Response

Unlike in previous tournament games, Fiebich got off to a strong start, making her first two shots from distance and guiding the host team impressively. Sabally and playmaker Alexis Peterson also performed brilliantly.

Lange had predicted Fiebich's performance explosion. "She knows that the hour has struck, and she will step up against Belgium," the head coach said about the 2024 WNBA champion.

Carried by a strong Fiebich, the rest of the team improved, playing a strong first quarter. After ten minutes, Germany led 22–19.

Second Quarter Surge

At the beginning of the second period, the DBB selection briefly went into a small frenzy, pulling ahead by 13 points (34–21). The spectators in the Uber Arena stood in excitement, and Nowitzki cheered from the front row.

Context

At last year's European Championship, Belgium was significantly stronger in the quarterfinals, winning by 24 points. However, the current German team has little in common with that squad. Lange has given the DBB selection a clear identity—and now they are competing for their first-ever World Cup medal.