U.S. Women’s Team Advances to FIBA World Cup Final with 76-66 Win Over Spain
U.S. women defeat Spain 76-66, set for Olympic rematch against France in FIBA World Cup final.
POLICY WIRE — City, Country — The U.S. women’s basketball team advanced to the FIBA World Cup final after a hard-fought 76-66 victory over Spain on Saturday.
Breanna Stewart led the way with 16 points, while Kahleah Copper contributed 13 as the Americans secured their spot in the championship game.
The U.S. will face France in a rematch of the 2024 Paris Olympics gold medal match, where they narrowly won by one point. This win marks the third consecutive tournament for the U.S. team, with a chance to match the Soviet Union’s record of five straight titles.
The game was closely contested, with Spain taking an early lead and the U.S. struggling to find offensive rhythm. However, the Americans pulled away in the fourth quarter, scoring 12 of the first 14 points to build a 70-60 lead with 5:20 remaining.
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Spain managed to cut the deficit to eight points but could not close the gap further. The U.S. shot 27 of 35 from the free-throw line, showcasing their resilience despite a challenging game.
This was the first World Cup meeting between the two teams since 2014, when the U.S. defeated Spain for gold. Stewart made her national team debut in that tournament. Spain, which will face Germany in the bronze medal game, had a strong start, scoring nine of the first 10 points.
The U.S. struggled to maintain momentum in the second quarter, facing physical defense from Spain that led to multiple fouls. Despite 27 free throws in the first half, the Americans held a 39-36 lead at halftime.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
