Gabi and the rest of world no. 2 Brazil take on Paola Egonu and the top-ranked Italians in the 2025 Volleyball Nations League Women's Finals.
Gabi Guimarães and Paola Egonu headline a blockbuster showdown as Brazil takes on defending champion Italy in the 2025 Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Women’s Finals on Monday (PH time) in Lódz.
This marks Brazil’s record fourth Finals appearance, but the powerhouse South Americans are still chasing their first-ever VNL title.
Standing in their way is an Italian squad aiming to cement its dominance with a third championship, which would tie Team USA for the most in women’s VNL history.
Italy comes in fresh off a dominant 3-0 semifinal win over host Poland—a repeat of last year’s final four—with Egonu once again proving unstoppable.
The star hitter fired 17 points on 15 kills, a block, and an ace to keep Italy on course for back-to-back titles.
Brazil, meanwhile, exorcised demons from last year’s heartbreak by edging Japan in a gripping 3-2 semifinal, a full-circle revenge win after their 2024 upset.
Gabi spearheaded the comeback with 25 points, including a stellar 24 kills, willing her team into one more fight for gold.
The finale pits the world no. 1 Italians against world no. 2 Brazil in a high-stakes showdown of two of the most electrifying squads in women’s volleyball.
For Italy, it’s history on the line. For Brazil, redemption.
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[Editor's note: This article was generated by a member of the One Sports Digital team using AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]