Team USA's Undefeated March to FIBA Semifinals: Crushing Hungary, Eyeing Gold!

The 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup semifinals are now set after a thrilling quarterfinal round in Berlin, featuring both dominant performances and significant upsets. Team USA, France, Spain, and host nation Germany have emerged as the final four contenders, each with their own narratives heading into the decisive matches. The United States and France maintained their undefeated runs with convincing victories, while Spain overcame a short-handed Australia, and Germany delivered a stunning upset against the reigning EuroBasket champion Belgium.

Team USA, after a slight scare in the group phase against Italy where they were held to 55 points, responded emphatically in their quarterfinal clash against Hungary. They delivered what the team considered its best performance of the tournament, securing a resounding 108-56 victory. This dominant display set new World Cup quarterfinal records for points scored (108) and assists (31) for the American squad. Napheesa Collier led all scorers with a personal best of 19 points for the senior national team, followed by Rhyne Howard with 15 points. Kahleah Copper, Caitlin Clark, and Jackie Young each contributed 10 points. Young has been a consistent force, being the only American player to achieve double figures in every game of the tournament.

The Americans' improved play was evident across the board. They shot an impressive 58.8% from the field, their best clip of the tournament, and matched their tournament high with 12 three-pointers after struggling with 29% shooting from deep in the group stage. Their defense also proved suffocating, frustrating Hungary's star post duo, Dorka Juhasz and Virag Takacs-Kiss, who combined for only four points. At halftime, 25 of the USA's 44 points came off turnovers, highlighting their ability to convert defense into offense. Coach Kara Lawson praised the team's defensive activity, which allowed them to create transition opportunities and gain confidence early on. Players like Rhyne Howard and Napheesa Collier highlighted the improved ball movement and chemistry, stating that when they play that way, "it's going to be really hard to stop us." This performance, which saw 108 points (second most in knockout game history) and a 52-point win margin (second largest for a quarterfinal), was seen as a product of their expedited chemistry-building finally coming to fruition after roughly 10 days together.

The semifinals promise intense matchups. The first game will feature Germany (FIBA ranking 11) against France (FIBA ranking 2) at 10:30 a.m. ET on Saturday. France, after nearly defeating the U.S. for gold at the 2024 Olympics, has openly declared its ambition to win the entire tournament in Berlin. Players credit Golden State Valkyries star Gabby Williams for fostering a culture of high standards and confidence within the French national team. Les Bleues are playing like genuine gold contenders, boasting an average winning margin of 39 points. While known for their defensive identity, France has also excelled offensively this World Cup, averaging 98.8 points on 53.3% shooting, including a blistering 45.7% from beyond the arc. Their roster includes WNBA players such as Pauline Astier, Valeriane Ayayi, Marine Johannes, Leila Lacan, Carla Leite, Dominique Malonga, Janelle Salaun, and Gabby Williams.

Germany, the host nation, is enjoying its best-ever finish in a major international tournament, making the semifinals in only its second World Cup appearance. Despite being without star Satou Sabally and recovering from a crushing 30-point loss to Spain earlier in the tournament, Germany upset Belgium in the quarterfinals—a day described by multiple players as potentially the best in their women's team's history. Coach Olaf Lange was "a little speechless" at his team's performance, which saw six players score in double figures, including double-doubles from Leonie Fiebich (17 points, 10 rebounds) and Nyara Sabally (16 points, 12 rebounds). This semifinal is a rematch of the Paris Olympics quarterfinals, where France defeated Germany 84-71, a loss that still resonates with the German players. As underdogs, Germany will rely heavily on the passionate support of their home crowd at Uber Arena as they seek to continue making history.

The second semifinal will see the United States (FIBA ranking 1) take on Spain (FIBA ranking 6) at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday. The U.S. women are aiming for their fifth consecutive World Cup gold medal and an unprecedented 12th overall, having lost only one game in a major international tournament since 1994. However, the absence of A'ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum has highlighted that the gap between the Americans and the rest of the world is rapidly diminishing. Their recent dominant performance against Hungary, with Napheesa Collier's aggressive play following double ankle surgery and Jackie Young's consistent scoring, bodes well for their confidence and chemistry.

Spain presents a much stiffer challenge than the U.S.'s recent opponents. Having nearly clinched EuroBasket gold in the past two tournaments, Spain features an intriguing blend of experienced veterans and promising young talent. Despite a perplexing group-phase loss to Mali, the Spanish squad, which includes WNBA players like Raquel Carrera and Maria Conde, delivered a well-rounded effort against Australia in the quarterfinals, with six players scoring at least nine points. To upset the Americans, Spain will likely need breakout performances from young talents such as 20-year-olds Iyana Martin (a Portland Fire first-round draft pick) and Awa Fam (a Seattle Storm rookie). All eyes will be on how Team USA, with players like Aliyah Boston, Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark, Chelsea Gray, Breanna Stewart, and others, navigates this significant challenge, especially after their earlier struggle against Italy, and demonstrates their ability to overcome adversity on their path to potential gold.