The United States reached the final of the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup after beating Spain 76-66 in Berlin on Saturday.
Spain stayed within touching distance for most of the semifinal before the defending champions produced a decisive fourth-quarter surge.
The teams were tied 58-58 entering the final period, but the United States tightened its defence and pulled away to secure the victory.
The result sends the USA into their fifth consecutive Women’s World Cup final.
Stewart leads USA
Breanna Stewart led the Americans with 16 points and six rebounds.
Kahleah Copper added 13 points, while Jackie Young scored 12 as the USA survived Spain’s sustained challenge.
Spain received 17 points each from María Conde and Iyana Martín, but struggled to match the Americans in the decisive final quarter.
The USA held Spain to only eight points in the fourth quarter after the teams entered the period level.
France await in final
The Americans will face France in Sunday’s final after the French team defeated hosts Germany 86-64 in the other semifinal.
Gabby Williams led France with 22 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals as France reached its first Women’s World Cup final.
The final will revive the rivalry between the two teams from the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The USA defeated France 67-66 in that Olympic final to retain the women’s basketball gold medal.
USA chase fifth straight title
The Americans enter Sunday’s final with a 35-game winning streak at the Women’s World Cup.
They have won the last four editions of the tournament and will attempt to claim a fifth consecutive title against an unbeaten French side.
France, meanwhile, will play its first Women’s World Cup final and is guaranteed its first medal at the tournament since its inaugural edition in 1953.
The championship game will therefore pit the competition’s reigning power against a French team chasing its first world title.
