Record-breaking US set up basketball World Cup final against China

SYDNEY: Breanna Stewart drilled 17 points as clinical reigning champions the United States crushed Canada 83-43 in record-breaking fashion on Friday (Sep 30) to set up a women's basketball World Cup final against first-timers China.

They opened with 15 unanswered points and never relented, extending their World Cup win streak to 29 games with their reward a clash with a powerful Chinese team that upset Australia 61-59 in a pulsating last-gasp triumph.

China made their maiden final after Wang Siyu converted two free-throws with just 3.4 seconds on the clock in front of more than 11,000 raucous fans at the Sydney SuperDome arena.

Ever-dangerous Las Vegas Aces' star A'ja Wilson added 15 points and 12 rebounds for the US as they zero in on a fourth straight title and 11th overall.

It was the biggest winning margin in a World Cup semi-final with Canada's tally the lowest in a last-four clash.

"I was really pleased with our team's attention to detail on the scouting report as Canada has had a terrific tournament," said US coach Cheryl Reeve. "Canada's a very good defensive team so that was a quality win for us.

"Our goal is to win a gold medal and we are in a position to do that," she added.

The US were always overwhelming favourites in their 10th consecutive World Cup semi-final, having never failed to reach the last four since the knockout stage was introduced in 1986.

In contrast, world No 4 Canada had got this far just once before, in 1986, when they also crashed to the US.

"I'm really proud with the way the team has grown from start to finish," said Stewart, who is in her third World Cup final.

"Our work is not done. we have one more game, the biggest of them all, and we'll be ready."

The Americans' depth, defence and scoring talent