Breanna Stewart scored 16 points and Kahleah Copper added 13 as the U.S. defeated Spain 76-66 on Saturday. This victory propels the team to the championship game of the women’s FIBA World Cup.
The Americans will face France in a rematch of the 2024 Paris Olympics gold medal game, which the U.S. narrowly won by one point. Currently, the U.S. boasts an impressive streak of 35 consecutive wins in the World Cup, dating back to a semifinal loss to Russia in 2006. A win in the upcoming match would mark their fifth consecutive tournament title, equaling the former Soviet Union’s record for consecutive championships.
Despite their recent dominant performances, the U.S. encountered challenges against Spain, struggling to establish an offensive rhythm. The game was intensely competitive, with the score tied at 58 as the fourth quarter began.
The Americans then surged, scoring 12 of the first 14 points to hold a 70-60 lead—their largest in the game—with 5:20 remaining. Spain managed to close the gap to eight points but couldn’t catch up further.
Throughout the match, the U.S. capitalized on free throws, hitting 27 out of 35 attempts. This marked their first World Cup meeting with Spain since their 2014 victory for the gold medal, which was Stewart’s debut on the national team.
Spain’s early 9-1 lead presented the largest deficit the Americans had faced in the tournament, surpassing the three-point trail they experienced against Italy in a previous 55-52 win. The U.S. newcomers entered the game and initiated a decisive 12-2 run to close the period.
The second quarter saw the U.S. struggling to extend its lead, unable to find a steady offensive rhythm due to Spain’s aggressive defense. This led to numerous fouls, resulting in the U.S. attempting 27 free throws in the first half, converting 19. By halftime, the U.S. held a narrow 39-36 lead.
Spain showed resilience and competiveness and will face Germany for the bronze medal on Sunday.