The United States women’s basketball team has booked their place in the FIBA World Cup final after a hard-fought 76-66 victory over Spain in Berlin on Saturday. Breanna Stewart and Kahleah Copper led the scoring with 16 and 13 points respectively as Team USA navigated a scrappy, tightly contested semifinal to set up a showdown with France — a repeat of the gold medal contest at the 2024 Paris Olympics, which the Americans edged by a single point.
A Game That Wasn’t Won in a Flash
Saturday’s contest was anything but a routine affair. Spain came roaring out of the blocks, seizing nine of the opening 10 points and leaving the Americans trailing by as many as seven. That deficit marked the largest the USA had conceded throughout the tournament, surpassing the three-point hole they dug themselves against Italy in a narrow 55-52 win earlier in the competition.
For long stretches, the Americans looked laboured and disjointed. Spain’s physical defensive structure choked off the USA’s offensive rhythm, drawing fouls at every turn and forcing Washington into a punishing night at the free-throw line. The visitors managed only a 16-9 advantage before their newer squad members were introduced, and it was that fresher group that helped ignite a 12-2 run to close out the opening period on a more positive note.
The second period proved equally frustrating for the favourites. They struggled to extend their lead beyond a comfortable margin, with the score standing at just 39-36 by halftime. Across the first 20 minutes, the USA attempted a mere 26 field goals while converting 19 of their 27 free-throw opportunities — a telling indicator of just how much Spain’s defence was testing them.
Stewart’s Experience Proves Decisive
It was in the fourth quarter that the Americans finally found their stride. The game was locked at 58 when the period began, but Stewart and her teammates seized control with a devastating 12-of-14 burst that propelled them to a 70-60 advantage with 5 minutes and 20 seconds remaining. That was the largest lead the USA held at any point in the match.
Spain, to their credit, refused to capitulate. They clawed their way back to within eight points but could manage no closer from that point forward. The Americans closed the contest in composed fashion, finishing with a final tally of 76-66.
Stewart, playing in her second World Cup campaign, was characteristically impactful. Her 16-point output came in a game where the Americans simply could not generate easy chances, requiring her to create in traffic against a committed Spanish defence. Copper’s 13 points provided vital support, and the pair formed the backbone of a performance that ultimately proved sufficient to secure passage through to the final.
A Record Hanging in the Balance
The victory extends the USA’s remarkable run in the tournament to 35 consecutive matches, a streak that dates back to a semifinal defeat against Russia back in 2006. A triumph in the final would see the Americans capture their fifth successive World Cup crown — a feat that would draw level with the former Soviet Union, who hold the joint record for the most back-to-back titles in the competition’s history.
Saturday’s encounter was only the second World Cup meeting between these two nations, and the first since the 2014 tournament, where the USA prevailed in the gold medal game. That was Stewart’s first major campaign with the senior national squad, and she has been a fixture ever since.
Spain, meanwhile, will turn their attention to Sunday’s bronze medal match, where they will face tournament hosts Germany. The Spanish side has been a resilient and competitive force throughout, and their ability to push the Americans in this semifinal underlines the depth of women’s basketball across Europe.
What Comes Next for the USA
The final against France presents a familiar and formidable challenge. The Paris Olympics gold medal game was one of the most closely contested affairs in recent memory, and France have only grown stronger since that encounter. The Americans will know that complacency is not an option — Saturday’s performance, particularly in the first half, served as a timely reminder that even the world’s best programme can be tested.
Coach Cheryl Reeve and her staff will likely spend the week between now and the final refining their rotation and sharpening their offensive execution. The free-throw line was a lifeline against Spain, but reliance on that alone is unsustainable against a side of France’s calibre.
Why it Matters
This tournament has reinforced a simple truth: the United States women’s national team remains the standard-bearer for the sport, but the gap between them and the rest of the world is narrowing with every edition of the World Cup. Spain pushed them to the limit, and France — waiting in the final — represents an equally daunting proposition. For British and global audiences following the women’s game, this is a golden era to be watching. The USA’s pursuit of a fifth straight title ties them to a legacy stretching back decades, and whether they achieve it or not, the quality on display this week has done plenty to elevate the profile of women’s basketball across the continent and beyond.
