U.S. Advances to FIBA Women’s World Cup Final, Defeating Spain

Breanna Stewart contributed 16 points and Kahleah Copper added 13, leading the U.S. to a 76-66 victory over Spain on Saturday. This win propels the team into the championship game of the women’s FIBA World Cup.

The Americans are set to face France next in a rematch of the 2024 Paris Olympics gold medal encounter, which the U.S. narrowly won by one point. The current victory extends the U.S.’s winning streak to 35 games in the World Cup since their last loss to Russia in the 2006 semifinals. A win in the upcoming game would give the U.S. a fifth consecutive tournament title, matching the record of the former Soviet Union.

Despite dominating their previous two games, the U.S. faced challenges against Spain. The Americans struggled to gain rhythm offensively with Breanna Stewart defending Iyana Martín during the semifinal in Berlin on Saturday.

The game was closely contested, with the score tied at 58 at the start of the fourth quarter. However, the U.S. surged, scoring 12 of the first 14 points to secure a 70-60 lead, their largest of the game, with 5:20 remaining. Spain couldn’t close the gap, staying eight points behind for the remainder of the game.

The Americans spent significant time at the foul line, successfully making 27 out of 35 free throws. This matchup marked the first World Cup meeting with Spain since the U.S. claimed the gold medal in the 2014 tournament, featuring Stewart’s national team debut.

Spain took an early lead by scoring nine of the game’s first 10 points. This deficit was the largest faced by the U.S. in the tournament, larger than the three-point lag against Italy in their 55-52 win. The Americans recovered, closing the opening period with a 12-2 run led by new players.

In the second quarter, the U.S. found it difficult to widen the lead, struggling offensively against Spain’s physical defense which led to numerous fouls. The U.S. attempted 27 free throws in the first half, converting 19, and had 26 field-goal attempts in total. They led 39-36 at halftime.

Spain, scheduled to face Germany in the bronze medal game, remained competitive but couldn’t overcome the U.S. lead.