Team USA Pulls Away from Spain in the Fourth Quarter to Reach FIBA World Cup Final

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In a bruising semifinal clash at Uber Arena in Berlin, Team USA survived its toughest international test in years, outlasting a relentless Spanish squad 76–66. Tied 58–58 entering the fourth quarter, the four-time defending champions flexed their defensive muscle when it mattered most, holding Spain to just eight points in the final frame to push their tournament winning streak to 35 games and lock up a spot in Sunday’s gold medal match.

Game Metric / Box Score	Spain National Team	Team USA
Final Score	66	76
Three-Point Shooting	6-27 (22%)	3-18 (17%)
Field Goal %	25-66 (38%)	23-58 (40%)
Top Individual Scorers	Maria Conde/Iyana Martin 17 PTS each	Breanna Stewart (16 PTS, 6 REB)
Bench Scoring Impact	Megan DiLeo (6 PTS)	Jackie Young (12 PTS, 5 REB, 4 AST)

Spain’s Young Guard Pushes USA to the Brink

Spain’s new generation of stars—led by 20-year-old WNBA draft pick Awa Fam—refused to back down against the tournament favorites. Utilizing precise ball movement, physical interior defending, and opportunistic transition scoring, Spain repeatedly answered American runs.

Every time Team USA threatened to break the game open, Spain countered, taking advantage of a cold perimeter shooting night for the Americans (who hit just 16.7% from three-point range). The game featured intense back-and-forth action through thirty minutes before USA head coach Kara Lawson adjusted her defensive coverage.

Stewart and Bench Depth Lockdown the Fourth

Veteran leader Breanna Stewart anchored the Americans down the stretch, scoring a team-high 16 points and securing key defensive rebounds. However, the key turning point came from the United States’ secondary rotation:

Kahleah Copper’s Spark: Copper provided vital instant offense, scoring 13 points off the bench to keep the pace up when the starting unit stagnated.
Jackie Young’s All-Around Play: Young contributed 12 points, five rebounds, and four assists, repeatedly penetrating Spain’s zone defense.
Interior Lockdown: Indiana Fever star center Aliyah Boston converted a crucial late bucket in the fourth quarter, capping off an 18–8 closing run that finally put Spain away.

Setting Up the Gold Medal Match

With the victory, Team USA advances to Sunday’s final against France, setting up a high-stakes rematch of the Paris 2024 Olympic gold medal game. While Spain moves to the bronze medal match against host-nation Germany, the Americans turn their focus to securing a fifth consecutive FIBA World Cup gold medal.