LEON (Mexico) - Canada are on the verge of making more history with a potential maiden FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup title, but must outlast their neighbors USA who are looking to seal a sixth title in seven editions. Canada have already recorded their best ever result in the competition just by having reached the Final, but won't want to settle on a silver medal. Meanwhile USA have been on fire all tournament long and will be eager to finish their campaign unbeaten - and in style.
Key Matchup
Savannah Swords has been immense for Canada and one of the main catalysts for an already historical result. But if they are to stand a chance of causing an upset in this title game, the forward must have one of her best games of the competition.
However, it is going to be seriously challenging against a USA frontcourt that will rotate through and try to grind Swords down. USA will perhaps look to the in-form Jordyn Palmer and McKenna Woliczko to fulfil the bulk of that particular mission.
X-Factor
How pivotal will the huge contrast in depth prove to be? The USA have so many different options to solve any headaches they have, with possible big contributions coming from their bench in any one-off game. This is really tough for Canada to compete with, since they depend very heavily on a couple of star names. If the likes of Swords and Agot Makeer deliver and avoid foul trouble, it could be fine. But their Plan B in terms of personnel is nothing like the Plan B, C and D that USA can rely on.
Stats Don't Lie
The scale of the task lying in wait for Canada can be highlighted by the fact that they are one of the leading scorers in the competition but there is still a gigantic gap of more than 20 points between them and USA.
Past matchups
These cross-border rivals met last year in the Final of the FIBA U16 Women's Americas Championship 2023 with USA riding out 79-59 winners. That means the players know each other very well. In terms of FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup tradition, they've never met in the Final previously, but USA have beaten Canada multiple times in the Semi-Finals. This includes AN 87-57 win at the last edition in 2022.
FIBA