USA grinds past Spain to set up World Cup final showdown with France
Breanna Stewart showed her championship make-up and experience, leading team USA back to the final with the win against a gutsy Spanish team Photo Credit: FIBA
The United States survived a back-and-forth battle with Spain, according to USA Basketball, needing a late push to escape with a 76-66 win in Berlin. The result books Team USA a spot in the final, where it will face France for the gold medal.
Stewart and Copper carry the USA down the stretch
The teams went into the final period tied at 58-58, according to a WNBA post on Facebook. From there, the Americans pulled away to close out the 10-point victory. Breanna Stewart led the way with 16 points, and Kahleah Copper added 13, according to Newsday — the two combining for 29 of the USA’s 76 points as Team USA turned back Spain’s resistance in the closing minutes.
The win keeps the Americans on track for a run of sustained dominance in the competition. This marks the USA’s fifth consecutive appearance in a World Cup final, and the program has won four consecutive World Cup golds heading into the title game, according to USA Today. A win over France would give the USA a 12th World Cup gold overall, according to USA Basketball.
A rematch of the Paris 2024 Olympic final
The final in Berlin brings back a familiar rivalry. The United States and France met in the gold medal game at the Paris 2024 Olympics on August 11, 2024, with the Americans escaping with a 67-66 win to secure their eighth consecutive Olympic gold in women’s basketball. That game was decided by a single point in a thriller. France will be looking for a measure of revenge on the World Cup stage, hoping to turn the tables on the team that denied it Olympic gold just over two years ago.
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