Team USA reaches the World Cup final after Spain exposes cracks beneath its winning streak

Team USA reaches the World Cup final after Spain exposes cracks beneath its winning streak
The United States is back in the FIBA Women’s World Cup final, but its 76-66 victory over Spain looked less like a coronation than a warning: the dynasty remains intact, though its margin for error is narrowing.

Spain controlled much of the semifinal’s rhythm, opening with a 13-4 lead and taking the game tied at 58 into the fourth quarter. The Americans then produced the decisive response, scoring 12 of the first 14 points in the final period and holding Spain to eight points. Breanna Stewart led the way with 16 points, while Kahleah Copper had 13 and Jackie Young added 12. The win extended the U.S. World Cup winning streak to 35 games and moved the four-time defending champions within one victory of a fifth consecutive title.

The more celebratory accounts cast the finish as evidence of resilience. Stewart attributed the turnaround to “the little things,” including rebounding and defensive intensity, while insisting that the team was ready for “the biggest one tomorrow.” That interpretation fits a veteran team that can survive an imperfect night and still close decisively.

But the statistics support a less comfortable reading. The U.S. shot 40 percent, went 3-for-18 from three-point range, committed 15 turnovers and managed only nine assists. Caitlin Clark scored one point and missed all three of her shots, underscoring how dependent the Americans remain on defense, free throws and late-game execution rather than consistent offensive flow.

The final against France will revive the tension of the 2024 Olympic gold-medal game, won by the U.S. 67-66 after a controversial last-second French shot. Coach Kara Lawson has framed the rematch in broader terms, saying a victory could help create “unity for our country as well.” That patriotic appeal contrasts with the semifinal’s basketball reality: Team USA is still the favorite, but Spain demonstrated that the path to another title may be a fight rather than a formality.