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Paris 2024 Olympic champion Julien Alfred topped the women’s heats with a 10.93 as the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025 got under way on Saturday (September).

Alfred cruised in the fourth heat to usher the 24 semi-finalists into Sunday’s round at Tokyo’s National Stadium. She edged Great Britain’s Daryll Neita by one-tenth of a second to comfortably progress.

The United States’ world leader Melissa Jefferson-Wooden followed with a 10.99 in Heat 1.

Her compatriot Sha’Carri Richardson was fifth overall in 11.03.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, appearing in her final career major championship, advanced in 11.09.

The top three from each of the seven heats go through plus the three fastest times.

More to follow…

RIGA (Latvia) – It all comes to this one game. Türkiye and Germany will step on the court on Sunday to determine the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 champion in what is sure to be a Final to remember.

For Türkiye it’s a chance to write history and claim their maiden crown, whereas Germany is in the chase for a rare World Cup-EuroBasket double as the former beat Greece in the Semi-Finals and the latter overcame underdogs Finland.

Türkiye are potentially 40 minutes away from writing history – in 90 years they found themselves on the podium only once, in 2001 on home soil, but have never won the title. This 24-year drought is over and now Ergin Ataman’s revenge squad is out to carve their names as the legends of Turkish basketball. They are still unbeaten as they stomped over Serbia and Greece on their way to the Final – a most impressive performance at the event.

However, a well-oiled German machine also stands perfect after eight games played. The best offense at the EuroBasket 2025 chases a rare feat – combining the world and European title as Germany are reigning world champions. They were impressive throughout the tournament, but Slovenia and Finland proved that even they can be tested. Even though Germany entered the event as one of the main favorites, a title would be just their second EuroBasket crown – after 1993 – and fourth decoration altogether as they were runners-up in 2005 and picked up bronze at the last edition.

How did they get here

Still perfect: Türkiye back in the title game after 24 years

Schroder, Wagner help carry Germany into first Final in 20 years

Key matchup

Yes, there is Alperen Sengun on one side and Dennis Schroder on the other, but today’s basketball is all about all-around swingmen. And, there are two of those who are about to have their own matchup with Cedi Osman and Franz Wagner going head-to-head at the forward position. Who comes out on top of that bout has a major chance to help their team get the title.

X-factor

Offense is the name of the game here with Germany leading the tournament in points per game with 101.4. Türkiye is also in the top 3, but Ergin Ataman’s team is the best three-point shooting crew in Riga with 44.7 percent from beyond the arc. Germany is second here with 39.0 percent and whoever will have the hottest hand are going to put themselves in the prime position for success.

What are they saying?

“We took an amazing victory but it’s not enough for us. We’re ready to fight for the title. Right now, my only plan is to rest, recharge and prepare for Germany with my assistants” – Ergin Ataman, Türkiye

“It’s really an honor to be a part of this group. We’re together. We’re confident. We’re going to fight on Sunday. It’s a great responsibility, having won the gold medal in the World Cup. Having won the bronze medal at the EuroBasket 2022. And now playing in the Final. We have to enjoy the moment. Try to play our best game and see what happen” – Alan Ibrahimagic, Germany

Did you know?

• This will be the first EuroBasket final between two unbeaten teams since 2003, when Lithuania defeated
  Spain.

• Türkiye will play in the EuroBasket final for the second time, after losing to Yugoslavia in 2001, and are aiming to become the 16th team to lift the trophy.

• Germany are averaging only 9.4 turnovers per game at zhe EuroBasket 2025, fewer than any other team,
  and have the best assists-to-turnover ratio of the competition with 2.3.

_{All information has been provided by Opta.}

What else to read

Osmani lights up Semi-Final: ‘He made it rain’

Schroder, Germany focused on bigger goal: “We didn’t come for silver”

FIBA

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce eased through to the 100m semi-finals at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan on Saturday (13 September).

Sporting pink, orange and green hair dye, the 38-year-old went in the seventh and final heat. She was narrowly behind her good friend Marie Josée Ta Lou-Smith at the start, and the Ivorian stayed ahead to win in 11.05. Fraser-Pryce looked comfortable throughout, crossing the line second in 11.09.

Liranyi Alonso of the Dominican Republic was third with Luxembourg’s world indoor 60m bronze medallist Patrizia Van der Weken making a surprise exit in fourth.

This is Fraser-Pryce’s final World Championships and she will be seeking to add to her tally of 10 gold, five silver, and one bronze medal from eight previous appearances. Only Allyson Felix (20) has won more medals although Fraser-Pryce holds the record for most individual golds with six.

All three Jamaicans made it out of their heats with the minimum of fuss. Two-time 100m world silver medallist Shericka Jackson eased down to take second in her heat, clocking 11.04 behind reigning world champion Sha’Carri Richardson.

National champion Tina Clayton coasted across the line to win her heat in 11.01.

The semi-finals take place on Sunday at 20:20 local time (11:20 GMT) with the final less than two hours later at 22:13 in Tokyo.

RIGA (Latvia) – After coming out on the wrong side of losses in Friday’s Semi-Final matchups, Finland and Greece will determine who’s going home on a high note in the Third Place Game.

For Finland, it would mark a historic success and nation’s first decoration, whereas if Greece bow out with a win it would be a repeat of the 2009 success and an end to a 16-year medal drought.

It was a fairytale campaign for Finland – one that started on the home court in Tampere, but was well extended into Riga. A nation that not only had never set foot on the podium, but had their first Quarter-Finals outing this year and can now write history with a medal. Lauri Markkanen and co could not overcome Germany for the second time, but sure gave the world champs some trouble. And some other victories, such as the one over Serbia in the Round of 16 show that this team can stir up some upsets. Can they do it again for bronze?

Greece, on the other hand, sure expected much more from their Semi-Finals bout against Türkiye. What was promised as a big battle quickly became a one-way street as Greece never even came close. Giannis Antetokounmpo will be looking to improve on that outing and a possibility of adding the first decoration with the national team to the trophy cabinet is a big motive for the NBA champion and MVP.

Key matchup: Markkanen vs Antetokounmpo

There are two major NBA stars on each side and destiny has it that both Lauri Markkanen and Giannis Antetokounmpo operate in the frontcourt. That means we’re bound to see them clash one-on-one multiple times and we’re talking about tournament’s second and fourth best scorers so far. Giannis is averaging 26.8 points per game whereas the ‘Finnisher’ tallies 23.6 on average and the team that features the winner of this head-to-head will be closer to the podium.

X-factor

Which basketball philosophy is going to prevail? Finland pride themselves with team basketball; averaging a third-best 22.8 assists per game as a team. Two of the top five three-point shooting teams are clashing and the depth of rosters could prove to be crucial in finding that hot hand.

What are they saying?

“Finland plays with a lot of energy, they shoot a lot, they move the ball quickly and we have to be ready. It is not a disappointment to be in the four best teams in Europe after 16 years. We should have the energy for Sunday. This match is a big deal and we are facing a very good team” – Vassilis Spanoulis, Greece

“I’m very proud of this group. They showed why they’ve been in situations like this before and managed to win. We will learn a lot from this, for sure, we weren’t perfect in the Semi-Finals. On the other hand, we can be proud the focus is on Sunday” – Lassi Tuovi, Finland

Did you know?

• Greece will play the Third Place Game for the sixth time. However, they have won just one of those five previous outings, the one in 2009.

• This will be the first game for the podium spot where both head coaches will be younger than 45 years old since the Third Place Game in 2001 (Germany vs Spain).

• Lauri Markkanen has 189 points at the EuroBasket 2025 so far, and needs only 7 points to beat his 195 points from 2022, a record for a Finland’s player.

_{All information has been provided by Opta.}

What else to read

Beyond the statsheet: Kostas Antetokounmpo making big impact

Trendsetters in Europe: Finland’s basketball revolution

FIBA

Carlo Ancelotti discussed his future with the Brazil national team beyond the 2026 World Cup as the legendary ex-Real Madrid boss revealed if he plans to stay as Selecao coach after the tournament is over. Ancelotti signed a one-year contract with CBF in the summer after leaving Los Blancos at the end of the 2024-25 La Liga campaign. He was replaced by Xabi Alonso at Santiago Bernabeu.