The United States advanced to the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup final in Berlin after edging Spain 76-66 on September 12, 2026. Team USA will face France in a gold-medal rematch of the 2024 Paris Olympics after the French defeated host nation Germany 86-64.
Team USA cleared a formidable hurdle to punch its ticket to the championship game, securing a hard-fought semifinal victory over an underdog Spanish side at Berlin’s Uber Arena. The Americans led for the majority of the contest, but Spain mounted a fierce comeback in the third quarter, finishing the frame on a 9-2 run to level the score at 58-58.
Facing the prospect of a stunning upset in front of a 12,650-strong crowd, the defending champions relied on veteran experience to regain control at the start of the final period. Breanna Stewart led the American charge, scoring six of her team-high 16 points in the fourth quarter while adding an assist, a steal, two offensive rebounds, and drawing four fouls under intense pressure from the Spanish defence.
How the Semifinals Unfolded in Berlin
The semifinal victory marked Team USA’s smallest margin of victory in a World Cup semifinal since its winning streak began in 2006. Kahleah Copper added 13 points and Jackie Young contributed 12 to support Stewart’s offensive output. Meanwhile, Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark struggled under the defensive pressure, finishing with just one point and two turnovers for the tournament favorites.
Spain kept the pressure on through stellar performances from Iyana Martín and Maria Conde, who each led all scorers with 17 points. Despite the loss, the Spanish side proved its mettle after advancing out of a tight group stage where it finished atop Group A on point differential over host Germany.
In the earlier semifinal matchup, France secured a dominant 86-64 victory over host nation Germany to reach the World Cup final for the first time since the tournament’s maiden edition in 1953 after losing their previous six World Cup Quarter-Finals matchups. US-born Gabby Williams starred for the French squad with 22 points, five assists, and four steals, cementing her status as a constant threat on both ends of the floor.
A Rising European Threat Faces the American Jjuggernaut
Sunday’s gold-medal clash brings together two familiar foes in a direct rematch of the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the United States narrowly captured the gold medal by a single point against an ascending French program.
France enters the final playing exceptional basketball, averaging 96 points per game throughout the tournament while executing a sharing-the-ball approach that produces 24 assists per contest on nearly 70 percent of their buckets. The French perimeter attack has also proved lethal, sinking 44 percent of their attempts from beyond the arc across five games while hitting 15 triples a night.
“They’re a really tough team. They’re shooting the s— out of the ball this tournament.”
Breanna Stewart, Team USA forward, via Yahoo Sports
By contrast, the American side has experienced inconsistent shooting stretches, hitting only 3 of 18 3-pointers against Spain after going 1 of 12 from deep against Italy in pool play.
Gold Medal Showdown and What Comes Next
Despite the narrative surrounding the Olympic rematch, veteran leaders within the American locker room have emphasized moving past prior results as they prepare for the tournament finale.
“We won that game. That game is over,” Stewart told reporters. “This is a completely new game. Everybody has their own things that continue to motivate them, but I think that what I’ll continue to be preaching to this team is, we’re going to continue to turn the page on everything. This is one game to win the gold medal in the World Cup in Berlin, and that’s our entire focus.”
Breanna Stewart, Team USA forward, via Al Jazeera
France approaches the final session carrying similar resolve. Marieme Badiane told reporters that the French squad will not be daunted by the American juggernaut, noting that the team recognizes an opportunity to claim the ultimate prize in Berlin on Sunday.
