BRNO (Czechia) - There's always plenty on the line in any FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup Semi-Final, but there's an added edge when it comes to Canada.
Getting set to face Australia in Saturday's big matchup, Canada are looking to put their barren run of winless Semi-Finals behind them, having lost at this stage in 2009, 2017 and 2023.
Meanwhile on the flip-side, Australia are looking to add to their rich heritage in the competition and punch a ticket to the title game for a 5th time.
Key matchup
Syla Swords vs Bonnie Deas
The dedication of Swords and her desire to be part of this competition despite having had to hot-foot it from FIBA Women's AmeriCup 2025 has been awesome. She is a driving force in everything that Canada do - setting the standards with her play at both ends of the court and most importantly, with her work rate and the small details.
Australian guard Deas meanwhile showed her clutch ability and similarly tough mentality for Australia in the Quarter-Finals. Having a shooting horror-show all game, she shrugged off that fact to drill the shot that effectively won her team this critical OT game.
Both players are classy operators and it will be a tremendous matchup. For the record, they both are in our MVP Ladder, volume 2.
X-factors
Tempo. Tempo. Tempo. Yes, if Canada get out and run, then Australia could struggle to keep pace with their opponents who really love to push the ball hard. Whether that is to hit a rim-runner or one of the wings that have leaked out, or even spot up for transition threes.
Can Australia's transition defense be good enough to slow down Canada - and pushing the rewind button before this question, can they take smart shots and crash that offensive glass to also help the cause?
Stats don't lie
These two teams have used their potent shooting from long-range to help them on the road to the last four of the competition, so a shootout could be on the cards. Canada broke the all-time record of course and have made a superb 42.3%, while Australia have sunk an excellent 38.8%.
In terms of any differences, Canada have looked after the ball better with 14.0 turnovers per game, compared to just over 18 for the Gems.
Past matchups
Australia have only ever lost once to Canada at any FIBA Women's youth event. Even this was by a single point at 50-49 back at the 2009 edition. The teams have never locked horns in the Semis, but Australia did win the last time they met, when they pulled out a 71-61 victory in the Quarter-Finals of the 2021 edition in Debrecen, Hungary.
Who will win?
FIBA