Gazeta Lodz - United States beats Spain 76-66 to set up World Cup final against France

The United States used a decisive fourth-quarter run to beat Spain 76-66 in Saturday's FIBA Women's World Cup semifinal in Berlin. The victory secured a championship meeting with France, which had defeated host Germany 86-64 earlier in the day.

Breanna Stewart led the Americans with 16 points. The teams were tied at 58 after three quarters before the United States opened the final period with a 12-2 run, establishing a 10-point lead with 5:20 remaining.

That advantage was the Americans' largest of the game. Their late separation followed a difficult start in which Spain led 9-1 and stayed ahead for much of the opening quarter.

The eight-point deficit was the biggest the United States had faced in the 2026 tournament. Before the semifinal, no opponent had led the Americans by more than three points.

Spain's defense forced turnovers and challenged shots, while the United States did not consistently take advantage when Spain struggled to score. The game remained level until the final quarter, when the Americans' sustained run created the winning margin.

Stewart said the team continued learning during the game and described Spain as young, energetic and competitive. She said the Americans had not underestimated their opponent and were turning their attention to the final.

The semifinal win extended the United States' combined Olympic and World Cup or World Championship winning streak to 71 games. The Americans entered Berlin as four-time defending World Cup champions and had not lost in the competition since the 2006 semifinals.

Their progress through this tournament has included other close contests. They edged Italy 55-52 in the group stage before producing a more dominant performance against Hungary in Thursday's quarterfinal.

France arrives at Sunday's final unbeaten and with an average winning margin of 35.6 points. Its victory over Germany came in front of the host nation's supporters and secured the country's first appearance in a Women's World Cup gold medal game.

Gabby Williams, Dominique Malonga, Janelle Salaun and Marine Johannes are among the players leading France. The French team handled Germany's physical play and the pressure of the home crowd to win by 22 points.

The final will renew the matchup from the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the United States won gold. Eight players on France's current roster were part of that Olympic team, compared with six returning members of the American gold medal squad.

Stewart said the previous meeting was over and would not determine Sunday's result. She emphasized preparation, scouting and the Americans' own execution as they seek another world title.

The United States' record makes another championship its stated standard, but France's unbeaten run and the close semifinal ensure the final begins with a new contest rather than an extension of the result in Paris.

I.Laskowski--GL