The United States will take on France in the final of the women’s basketball World Cup after a 76-66 win over Spain in the semi-finals in Berlin on Saturday. Underdogs Spain, whose best-ever result was reaching the 2014 final against the Americans, levelled the scores at 58-all at the end of the third quarter.
The experience of the 11-time champions told in the final period, however, as the US outscored their opponents by 10 to seal victory. Led by 16 points from Breanna Stewart and 13 from Kahleah Copper, the US extended their winning streak at the tournament to 35 matches, a run that dates back to a semi-final defeat by Russia in 2006.
Sunday’s clash with France will be a rematch of the 2024 Paris Olympics gold medal match, which the Americans won by just one point. “That’s over, you know what I mean? We won that game and that game is over and this is a completely new game tomorrow,” Stewart told reporters when asked about the 2024 final.
“Everybody has their own things that continue to motivate them… but this is one game to win the gold medal in the World Cup in Berlin, and that’s our entire focus.” It was another disappointing night though for Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, who scored just one point and turned the ball over twice under intense pressure from the Spanish defence.
Spain made a fast start and built an eight-point lead midway through the first quarter. The Americans found their rhythm and controlled much of the second and third quarters, edging ahead as Copper and Stewart kept the scoreboard ticking over. But, as they had against Italy, the Americans allowed their intensity to drop and Spain fought back, finishing the third quarter on a 9-2 run to draw level.