The United States beat Spain 76-66 in the FIBA Women’s World Cup semifinal Saturday, September 12 in Berlin, and it was the closest call of the tournament. The game was tied at 58 entering the fourth quarter before the Americans closed on an 18 to 8 run. Team USA plays France for gold Sunday at 2 p.m. ET on TNT; Spain plays Germany for bronze at 10:30 a.m. ET on truTV.
| Final | United States 76, Spain 66 |
| USA leaders | Breanna Stewart 16 pts, 6 reb; Kahleah Copper 13; Jackie Young 12 |
| Spain leaders | María Conde 17; Iyana Martín 17; Awa Fam 9 pts, 8 reb |
| Shooting | USA 23 of 58 (39.7%), 3 of 18 from three, 27 of 35 FT. Spain 25 of 66 (37.9%), 6 of 26 from three, 10 of 11 FT |
| Records | USA 5-0, Spain 3-2 |
| Next | USA vs. France, Sunday 2 p.m. ET, TNT. Spain vs. Germany for bronze, Sunday 10:30 a.m. ET, truTV |
How It Happened
Spain came out ready and led by eight early, the largest deficit the Americans have faced in Berlin. The United States shot 3 of 18 from three and 39.7 percent overall, and Spain hung around all afternoon, tying the game at 58 at the end of the third quarter. Then the veterans took over. Stewart, Copper and Young combined for 14 of the 18 fourth quarter points, the Americans committed one turnover in the period, and Spain’s Iyana Martín went scoreless in the fourth after a brilliant first three quarters.
The difference was the free throw line. The United States went 27 of 35, with Stewart 8 of 11 by herself, while Spain attempted only 11 and made 10. Copper’s 13 came on 5 of 9 shooting and was her best game of the tournament; Young scored six of her 12 in the fourth quarter.
Martín, at 20, became the youngest player to score 16 or more in a World Cup semifinal, going 5 of 8 with three rebounds, three assists and three steals. Conde matched her 17. Awa Fam had nine points and eight rebounds. Caitlin Clark had one point, one rebound, one assist and one steal in 17 minutes for the United States; Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen did not play.
What It Means
The win was the 35th straight for the United States at the World Cup, a streak that goes back to the 2006 semifinal loss to Russia, and put the Americans in a fifth consecutive final. A title Sunday would be a fifth straight, tying the Soviet Union’s record run. France beat host Germany 86-64 in the other semifinal for its first ever World Cup final, setting up a rematch of the one point Paris Olympic gold medal game.
Spain, whose best World Cup result remains the 2014 final loss to the Americans, plays Germany for bronze Sunday morning. It would be a first World Cup medal for either country.
Related
The final: USA vs. France · FIBA games today · Full bracket · Caitlin Clark game today · Team USA schedule
The Bottom Line
United States 76, Spain 66. Tied after three, decided by an 18 to 8 fourth quarter and a 27 of 35 night at the line. The Americans play France for gold Sunday at 2 p.m. ET on TNT and HBO Max.