Santiago, Chile – The stage is set for an exciting showdown in the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup 2025 Semi-Finals as Brazil, Argentina, the United States, and Canada advanced after their respective wins on Friday at Centro de Deportes Colectivos.
With the tournament heating up, the matchups promise intense rivalries, particularly the clash between South American neighbors Brazil and Argentina, while the North American powers, the United States and Canada, prepare for their duel.
Brazil enters the Semi-Final on a remarkable 13-game winning streak, showcasing a polished gameplay without significant flaws. In contrast, Argentina has made a strong comeback after a challenging start, winning three consecutive matches to secure their place.
Despite Brazil’s impressive record, Argentina remains a fierce competitor, having defeated Brazil twice at the 2023 South American Championship, although the teams featured different lineups at that time.
In the upcoming Semi-Final, the pivotal matchup will likely be the battle in the paint, featuring Brazil’s formidable duo, Kamilla Cardoso and Damiris Dantas, against Argentina’s Agostina Burani and Diana Cabrera. The Brazilian centers are known for their mix of size, strength, and skill, dominating the competition thus far.
Argentina, aiming to slow down Brazil’s inside presence, will need to strategically free up perimeter scorers like Florencia Chagas and Melisa Gretter to keep the game competitive.
One standout player to watch is Cardoso, currently leading the tournament and a strong contender for MVP based on fan votes. The Chicago Sky star has been explosive, recording 22 points, 16 rebounds, and two blocks in her last game against Mexico, marking her seventh double-double in just 19 AmeriCup games.
Her performance has been exceptional, with the 24-year-old already breaking records and looking unstoppable after winning MVP honors in the previous edition of the tournament.
Statistically, Brazil shows clear superiority in offense, averaging 81.6 points per game compared to Argentina’s 58.8. Pokey Chatman’s squad excels in field goal percentage, three-point shooting, and free-throw accuracy—plus they lead in rebounds, assists, and steals.
However, it’s worth noting that Argentina has managed to limit opponents to an average of just 60.2 points per game, largely due to their disciplined play, evidenced by their low turnover rate of only 53, the fewest in the tournament.
Historically, Brazil has an advantage in their head-to-head AmeriCup matchups, leading 12-3 overall, with their latest contest ending in a narrow 56-55 victory in 2023. Conversely, Argentina’s last win over Brazil was by a significant margin of 68-49 during the Group Phase of the 2017 edition in Buenos Aires.
On the other side of the bracket, the United States, favorites to win the tournament, continued their flawless run by defeating the Dominican Republic, pushing their record to 5-0. Meanwhile, Canada demonstrated resilience by bouncing back from an early loss to Brazil, entering the Semi-Finals on a high as they find their rhythm.
An intriguing aspect of the USA vs. Canada matchup will be the battle of the point guards. Olivia Miles and Hannah Hidalgo of the United States will face off against Shayeann Day-Wilson and Shay Colley of Canada.
Miles has been particularly impressive, amassing a tournament-leading 40 assists, averaging 8.0 per game, while Hidalgo follows closely with 9 assists in their last game, putting her at 4.8 per contest. On Canada’s side, Day-Wilson is among the top performers, averaging 4.6 assists per game.
To secure a victory, Canada must prioritize taking care of the ball. Although the United States averages more turnovers (17.2 compared to Canada’s 14.6), they are notorious for their capacity to disrupt and capitalize on opponents’ mistakes.
In a record-setting performance, the United States achieved 31 steals against the Dominican Republic in their last match, setting a new AmeriCup record that surpassed the previous high of 24 steals since 2003. This remarkable defensive effort has raised their average to 18.6 steals per game, significantly higher than Canada’s 8.2.
Offensively, the United States excels, averaging a staggering 96.4 points per game, whereas Canada lags behind with 80.2. Their shooting percentages further illustrate the divide, with the USA hitting 47.4 percent from the field, while Canada struggles to reach the 40 percent mark.
With ball movement playing a crucial role in their success, the USA’s distribution is notable, averaging 27 assists per game compared to Canada’s 18.6.
As the Semi-Finals approach, all eyes will be on this fierce competition to find out which teams will advance to the final. The intensity of the matchups between Brazil and Argentina along with the United States and Canada promises to deliver thrilling basketball action.
image source from：fiba
