The United States women's basketball team advanced to the FIBA World Cup final after a 76-66 victory over Spain in Berlin on Saturday. Breanna Stewart led the scoring with 16 points to secure the win.
Stewart's 16 points and the late 12-14 surge
The United States women's basketball team relied on a strong performance from Breanna Stewart, who scored 16 points, and Kahleah Copper, who contributed 13 points, to overcome Spain.. While the game remained competitive for three quarters, the Americans broke the deadlock in the final period. according to the report, the match was tied at 58 points at the start of the fourth quarter before the U.S. team scored 12 of the next 14 points.
This late offensive explosion allowed the United States to establish a 70-60 lead with 5:20 remaining in the game . This 10-point margin represented the largest lead the Americans held throughout the semifinal match in Berlin,effectively sealing their path to the championship game.
A 35-game winning streak and the ghost of 2006
The victory over Spain extends an extraordinary run of dominance for the United States women's basketball team, which has now won 35 consecutive games in the FIBA World Cup. This streak is a testament to the program's longevity and depth, though it was not always an unbroken chain. As the report says, the current winning streak dates back to a semifinal loss to Russia in 2006.
This match also served as a historical bookend for Breanna Stewart. the semifinal was the first time the United States and Spain had met in the World Cup since 2014, a tournament where the U.S. took the gold medal and Stewart made her national team debut.
Spain's physical defense and the 16-9 early deficit
Despite the eventual win, the United States women's basketball team faced significant adversity early in the game due to Spain's aggressive defensive strategy. Spain jumped to a quick lead, scoring nine of the first 10 points of the match. This resulted in a 16-9 deficit for the Americans, which the report identifies as the largest lead any opponent has held over the U.S. during this tournament.
The struggle continued into the second quarter as Spain employed a physical defensive style that disrupted the American offensive rhythm. This physicality forced the United States to rely heavily on the foul line; the U.S. team took 27 free throws in the first half, converting 19 of them, while attempting only 26 field goals in the same period. The U.S. entered the break with a slim 39-36 lead.
Matching the Soviet Union's five consecutive titles
The United States women's basketball team is now positioned to make history in the upcoming final against France. A victory in the championship game would secure a fifth consecutive tournament title for the Americans. Such an achievement would tie the record for the most consecutive championships, a mark currently held by the former Soviet Union.
The pursuit of this record underscores the stakes of the final. While the U.S. has cruised through much of the tournament, the difficulty of the Spain game suggests that the path to matching the Soviet Union's legacy may require more tactical adjustments than previous gold-medal runs.
The France final and the mystery of the U.S. offensive flow
As the United States women's basketball team prepares to face France,several questions remain regarding their offensive consistency. The report notes that the Americans "struggled against Spain" and were unable to find a steady flow on offense for much of the game. It remains unclear if this was a result of Spain's specific defensive scheme or a broader systemic issue within the U.S. rotation.
Furthermore, while the report confirms France as the opponent, it provides no details on France's current form or key players. Whether France will employ a similarly physical defense to the one used by Spain—and how the U.S. will counter that approach—will likely determine the outcome of the final.
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