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U.S. Women Defeat Spain to Reach FIBA World Cup Final
The U.S. women are headed to their fifth straight FIBA World Cup gold medal game, facing France in a 2024 Paris rematch.
Doug Feinberg | The Associated Press
September 12, 2026 · 9:42 PM
Breanna Stewart (16 points) led the U.S. to their fifth straight FIBA World Cup final.
BERLIN (AP) — Breanna Stewart scored 16 points and Kahleah Copper added 13 to help the U.S. beat Spain 76–66 on Saturday, advancing to the championship game of the women's FIBA World Cup.
The Americans will face France in a rematch of the 2024 Paris Olympics gold medal game, which the U.S. won by a single point.
The U.S. has won 35 straight World Cup games dating back to a loss to Russia in the 2006 semifinals. Now the Americans are one win away from a fifth consecutive tournament title, which would match the former Soviet Union for the most consecutive championships.
After cruising through their past two games, the U.S. struggled against Spain, unable to find any offensive rhythm. The game was tied at 58 entering the fourth quarter before the Americans scored 12 of the first 14 points to take a 70–60 lead — their largest of the game — with 5:20 remaining. Spain could only get within eight the rest of the way.
The U.S. spent much of the game at the foul line, making 27 of 35 free throws. This was the first World Cup meeting between the teams since the U.S. defeated Spain for the gold medal in the 2014 tournament — Stewart's debut with the national team.
Spain started hot, scoring nine of the game's first 10 points. That was the largest deficit the Americans had faced in this tournament, surpassing the three points they trailed Italy by in a 55–52 victory. It was 16–9 before the U.S. newcomers entered the game and helped close the period with a 12–2 run.
The Americans, however, couldn't extend that lead much in the second quarter. They couldn't get into any offensive flow as Spain played a physical defense that resulted in foul after foul. The U.S. took 27 free throws in the first half, making 19, while attempting just 26 field goals total. The U.S. led 39–36 at the break.
Spain, which will play host Germany in the bronze medal game on Sunday, wouldn't go away.
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