The 2022 Women's Basketball World Cup officially entered the knockout stage today.

In the just-concluded quarter-finals, the Chinese women's basketball team defeated the French team 85:71 and advanced to the semi-finals.

Image credit: Osport All Sports Photos

　　In the group stage, the Chinese women's basketball team ranked second in the group with a record of four wins and one loss. The overall performance was second only to the US team among all participating teams. The core Li Meng was in the leading position in the MVP online voting officially initiated by FIBA. .

　　While the star players have performed outstandingly, the team awareness of the Chinese women's basketball team is also impressive, which is reflected in many aspects such as sharing the ball and assisting in defense.

In the face of the world's No. 1 US team, although the Chinese women's basketball team finally lost, the performance of the whole team was remarkable, and they once won the opponent by 10 points in a single quarter.

　　Entering the knockout round, the European powerhouse France became the first opponent of the Chinese women's basketball team.

The Chinese women's basketball team is no stranger to this French team.

In the World Cup qualifiers held in February this year, the Chinese women's basketball team defeated the French team 103:70, a margin of 33 points.

Image credit: FIBA ​​social media

　　Last month, the two sides also played against each other in the warm-up match. Although the Chinese women's basketball team lost, but the team lacked major players such as Han Xu and Li Yueru at that time, so the result did not have much reference significance.

　　Unlike the Chinese women's basketball team who easily qualified from the group, the French team's road to promotion is somewhat bumpy.

After 5 games in the group stage, the French women's basketball team finally achieved 3 wins and 2 losses, ranking fourth in Group B.

　　Although the French team ranks sixth in the world slightly higher than the Chinese women's basketball team, from the comparison of the strength of the two teams and the current state, the Chinese women's basketball team is one step ahead.

In the FIBA ​​Women's World Cup strength rankings updated yesterday, the Chinese team ranked second, while the French team ranked seventh.

Image credit: Osport All Sports Photos

　　Yang Liwei, Li Meng, Wang Siyu, Huang Sijing, and Li Yueru formed the starting lineup of the Chinese women's basketball team today.

At the beginning of the game, Li Meng, who was feeling hot, hit three three-pointers in a row, helping the Chinese team lead by 9 points.

However, at the end of the first quarter, the Chinese women's basketball team failed to control its own mistakes, resulting in some confusion.

The French team seized the opportunity to approach the point difference and chased 25:25 before the end of the first quarter.

　　In the second quarter of the contest, the Chinese women's basketball team once again showed the characteristics of strong self-adjustment ability on the spot.

The team starts from defense, drives counter-attacks and fast-breaks through high-quality defense, and controls the number of mistakes, and gradually reintegrates the game into its own rhythm.

In the face of such a Chinese women's basketball team, the French team seemed to have few options, and the score was pulled into double digits.

At the end of the half, the Chinese team led 50:39.

　　Into the second half, the French team showed the tenacity as a traditional powerhouse in Europe.

In a passive situation, the Chinese women's basketball team started from the inside and maintained the lead by relying on Han Xu's high point, and spent the most difficult time.

　　In the end, the Chinese women's basketball team defeated the French team 85:71 and advanced to the semi-finals of the World Cup.

　　According to the schedule, the semi-final opponent of the Chinese team will be between the Australian team and the Belgian team. The game time is 17:30 on the 30th, Beijing time.

Another semi-final matchup has been released, with Canada challenging the United States.

　　In the history of the Women's Basketball World Cup, the Chinese team won the runner-up in 1994, which was their best record.

In the past two World Cups, the Chinese team has won 6th place.

　　It is expected that the Chinese women's basketball team can make a breakthrough in this competition.

Girls, come on!