The Americans played the closest semi-final game since 2010. Tobias Scharz/Getty Images
Despite being cold from long range, Team USA still managed to survive and advance to the gold medal game at the World Championships, defeating Spain 76-66. The victory marks a rematch against France, which lost to the USA by one point in the gold medal game at the 2024 Olympics.
Saturday’s win in Berlin was Team USA’s narrowest margin of victory in a World Cup semifinal since the streak began in 2010 (12 points against Australia in 2010) and the closest USA-Spain game since 1998 (11 points).
Spain led for much of the first quarter, dictating the pace early when the Americans got off to a shaky start. But Team USA retook the lead at the end of the first quarter and never trailed, although victory never seemed certain until the final minute.
Breanna Stewart led Team USA with 16 points, while Kahleah Copper and Jackie Young added 13 and 12 points, respectively. Spain’s Iyana Martín, the No. 7 pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft (Portland Fire, although she sat out this season to focus on Spain’s World Cup) and Maria Conde (Toronto Tempo) led all scorers with 17 points each.
France advanced to the championship with an 86-64 semifinal victory over Germany behind 22 points from Gabby Williams.
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