USA Basketball Dominates Spain, Securing Spot in FIBA World Cup Final

The United States women's basketball team has advanced to the championship game of the FIBA World Cup after defeating Spain 76-66 in a hard-fought semifinal match in Berlin. Breanna Stewart led the American squad with 16 points, while Kahleah Copper contributed 13 points to secure the victory. This win extends the U.S.'s remarkable winning streak in the World Cup to 35 consecutive games, a run that began after a loss to Russia in the 2006 semifinals. The Americans are now just one win away from clinching their fifth consecutive tournament title, which would match the historic record set by the former Soviet Union for the most consecutive championships.

Unlike their previous two games, which saw the U.S. cruising to victory, the semifinal against Spain proved to be a significant challenge. The U.S. offense struggled to establish a consistent flow, facing a determined Spanish defense. The game remained tight, with the score tied at 58 to start the fourth quarter. However, the Americans found their rhythm when it mattered most, initiating a decisive 12-2 run that propelled them to a 70-60 lead with 5:20 remaining – their largest advantage of the entire game. Spain was unable to close the gap significantly thereafter, only getting within eight points for the remainder of the contest.

A notable aspect of the U.S. strategy was their frequent trips to the foul line, converting 27 out of 35 free throw attempts throughout the game. This reliance on free throws became apparent early on; in the first half alone, the U.S. took 27 free throws, making 19 of them, while only attempting 26 field goals. The U.S. held a narrow 39-36 lead at halftime.

Spain started the game strong, taking a 9-1 lead in the opening minutes, marking the largest deficit the Americans had faced in this tournament, surpassing the three-point deficit against Italy in their 55-52 victory. The score stood at 16-9 before the U.S. newcomers entered the game, contributing to a crucial 12-2 run that closed out the first quarter. Despite this, the U.S. couldn't significantly extend their lead in the second quarter as Spain's physical defense resulted in numerous fouls, impacting the offensive rhythm of the American team. This was the first World Cup encounter between these two nations since the 2014 tournament, where the U.S. defeated Spain for the gold medal, a tournament that marked Breanna Stewart's debut with the national team.

With this hard-fought victory, the U.S. will now prepare to face France in the championship game, in what will be a highly anticipated rematch of the 2024 Paris Olympics gold medal game, which the U.S. won by a single point. Meanwhile, Spain will compete against Germany in the bronze medal game on Sunday.